To make polymer clay more flexible, the key is proper baking.
Polymer clay becomes flexible when adequately baked in an oven. This flexibility is a natural characteristic of the material once cured, especially in thinner pieces.
Here's a breakdown:
- The Role of Baking: Unlike air-dry clay, polymer clay cures through a chemical reaction triggered by heat. The reference states that when polymer clay is "adequately baked in an oven," it gains flexibility.
- Vinyl Composition: The reference highlights that polymer clay is "made from vinyl." This composition is fundamental to its ability to become flexible after baking.
- Thickness Matters: The reference notes that polymer clay is "flexible enough to bend if it is thin." Thin pieces are more prone to exhibiting this post-bake flexibility.
- Normal for All Brands: This characteristic flexibility after baking is "very normal for it to bend and be flexible" and "happens with all brands of Polymer Clay," according to the reference.
Practical Steps:
- Ensure Adequate Baking: Follow the time and temperature instructions on your specific clay packaging precisely. Under-baking can result in brittle clay that breaks instead of bending. Over-baking can cause discoloration or scorching.
- Consider Thickness: While cured polymer clay gains flexibility, the degree of flexibility is highly dependent on thickness. Thinner pieces (like those used for veneers or flexible elements) will bend significantly more than thick, solid sculptures.
- Test Baking: It's often recommended to do a small test piece of the same thickness as your project to verify the correct baking time and temperature for your oven and clay brand.
In essence, you don't add something to raw clay to make it flexible after baking; the flexibility is achieved by properly curing the clay through baking, leveraging its inherent vinyl properties, especially in thinner forms.
