Metal Clays as a Medium for Exploring Introductory Materials Science and Engineering

Everyday objects are often sources of inspiration for the study of materials. When aspiring scientists and engineers begin asking questions about the materials that comprise the objects around them─such as why different metal alloys have distinct colors or why jewelry often contains multiple precious metal elements─they are taking the first steps in discovering core concepts in Materials Science and Engineering. Here, we describe a laboratory at the intersection of art (jewelry making) and materials science that inspires students to investigate the processing and colorimetry of jewelry made from metal clays. Here, we focus on exploring key MSE concepts through (1) the use of accessible materials such as metal clays, (2) process design of the sintering stage through use of binary phase diagrams, and (3) metal alloy color design through empirical modeling using the CIELAB color space. Students ultimately design their own custom Cu–Ag alloy color and then fabricate a piece of jewelry that meets their color design specifications. We also highlight possible extensions for this laboratory, including mechanical characterization or patination. In addition, this laboratory is designed to be adapted for educational outreach and has been implemented in Chicago area secondary schools and with summer high school teachers through NIST- and NSF-supported programming.