The use of Fast-Flowing Chemical Processes for the Application of Metal Coatings in Artistic Creation

This article proposes to integrate scientific, technical, and engineering methods with art and design in the context of studying chemistry. The proposed methodology corresponds to the concept of STEAM education and promotes understanding of the chemical foundations of the method and the development of creative and innovative skills that can be applied in real situations. The use of aluminothermy with an excessive enthalpy value for the creation of artistic objects makes it possible to combine the study of thermochemistry and engineering issues with creativity. Thermochemical calculations are used to select the composition of the mixture, which ensures the spontaneous flow of the process with simultaneous gas-thermal spraying of part of the products onto the substrate. The discussion of the chemical basis of the method makes it possible to clarify the composition of the mixture. The solution to engineering issues consists in choosing the substrate material, the shape and location of the charge, structuring the pattern by bending the substrate and using a stencil. The methods of artistic construction help to create an art object from a substrate with spraying. It is shown that mixtures based on aluminum and copper (II) oxides, both in pure form and with the addition of manganese (IV), molybdenum (VI), tungsten (VI), iron (III), chromium and nickel (III) oxides in various ratios, are best suited for creating works of art by the method of aluminothermy. Sodium hydroorthophosphate was used as a protective impregnation for paper, canvas and cardboard.