posted on March 12, 2006 05:20:47 PM new
The pendant part is made of glass and I don't know what else. The beads are a combination of glass and (I think) wood
posted on March 12, 2006 05:35:40 PM new
The pendant is dichroic (check spelling) glass. The other beads look like lampworked glass, brass or gold plated and possibly wood.
posted on March 13, 2006 02:17:41 PM new
Very pretty - I'd put Art Glass in the title as well.
What does DICHROIC glass mean? I've never heard the term before.
posted on March 13, 2006 08:34:52 PM new
ladyjewels2000: Dichroic means two colors, and this glass appears to be different colors when viewed from different angles or in varying degrees of illumination. Dichroic glass is created by adding a thin layer of metallic oxides which transmit certain light wavelengths while reflecting others, causing an iridescent effect.
I love the stuff but it is typically pretty expensive if purchased locally. However, the prices on eBay are quite reasonable in comparison.
posted on March 13, 2006 10:26:49 PM new
Dichroic glass is a high-tech spin-off of the space industry. "Dichroic" is defined as the property of having more than one color, especially when viewed from different angles or from transmitted to reflected light. Dichroic coated glass is produced by a process called "thin film physics" and is generally referred to as a color separator. It's normally used as an interference filter in scientific measuring or correcting applications. To get this effect, thin layers of metallic oxides, such as titanium, silicon, and magnesium are deposited upon the surface of the glass in a high temperature, vacuum furnace.
The glass to be coated is carefully cleaned, and fastened to a planetary arm in the top of the furnace chamber. The oxides are placed in a crucible on the bottom of the chamber. Air inside of the chamber is removed with a high vacuum-producing cyro-pump, and the chamber is heated to 300 °F. The metallic oxides are vaporized by an electron beam, and the rotating glass target is evenly coated with many thin layers. The resulting color is determined by the individual oxide compositions and the coatings sequence, totaling about 700 angstroms thick, (3 to 5 millionths of an inch). All of this is tightly controlled by a computer. Since the total thickness is so minute, the filter has very little mechanical integrity of its own and must be supported on a mechanically stable substrate. Glass is the ideal candidate for this substrate. It is transparent, has adequate rigidity, is stable, withstands relatively high temperatures, and is not affected by moisture, solvents or most acids.
[ edited by paloma91 on Mar 12, 2006 05:22 PM ]