Artificial Amber Production Methods and Identification Techniques

The steps for making artificial amber are to first pour the prepared resin solution into the prepared mold. It cannot be filled all at once, but should be poured in several times. After the solution solidifies, the mold is separated. Can form complete artificial amber. The handicrafts made by this method are highly similar to amber, so it is often sold instead of natural amber.

Everyone knows that natural amber is a natural resin fossil formed by nature. Its gestation takes tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of years. Amber itself is full of legend. However, the amber and amber jewelry sold in the market are not necessarily natural amber, and fake and shoddy amber products are everywhere, making it difficult for those who like amber to guard against it, and it is easy to spend a lot of money. Next, I will introduce to you a more common counterfeit product that is very similar to natural amber, which is artificial amber.

How to make artificial amber:

1. We put the high-quality rosin we bought in a beaker and add a small amount of it in a ratio of 10:1 Alcohol, then heat the beaker with an alcohol lamp and stir continuously with a glass rod until the rosin is completely melted and the alcohol is completely evaporated.

2. Take out the butterflies, beetles or small plants that we want to make specimens, put them in a prepared small paper box with a layer of wax paper inside, and then put the melted rosin Slowly pour into the carton. After the rosin has completely solidified and hardened, tear off the carton and use a sharp knife to carefully trim off the excess parts of the specimen. In this way, the rough amber specimen is completed.

3. Wash the finished blank with alcohol and then dry it. This can make the artificial amber more transparent, as if a small animal is hibernating inside, and the internal structure can be seen. It's very clear, like a real piece of insect amber. Finally, put it into a glass box, and the specimen is successfully completed.

In addition, when making amber, you also need to pay attention to the following aspects:

1. When heating rosin, an asbestos net needs to be placed on the underside of the beaker, and the beaker must not be allowed to Direct contact with the alcohol lamp, otherwise if the temperature is too high, the color of the rosin will become darker, which will affect the transparency of the specimen.

2. When melting rosin, if the temperature is decreasing, you need to use a glass rod to stir continuously, so that the bubbles in the rosin can escape and will not cause bubbles in the final product.

3. When washing the blank with alcohol, do not soak the entire blank in alcohol. You should hold the blank in your left hand, dip your right hand in alcohol, and then wipe it back and forth on the opaque area until it is transparent, and then let it dry. It should be noted that the washing time should not be too long, about three to four minutes, otherwise the rosin will easily become soft.

The difference between artificial amber and natural amber:

1. Experiment: The texture of natural amber is very light, and when you put it (without any inlay) into the water, it also Will sink to the bottom of the water. But you don't need to worry. You then add dissolved concentrated salt water into it. When the salt concentration is greater than 1:4 (1 part salt, 4 parts water), the real amber will float slowly, but the fake amber will not float.

2. Sound: A non-embedded amber chain or beads will make a soft and dull sound when gently rubbed in your hands. If it is plastic or resin, the sound will be crisper.

3. Fragrance: Amber has only a very faint smell that is almost inaudible when rubbed, or it may not be smelled at all. Amber that produces fragrance when rubbed is called "aromatic amber". Generally, amber only emits a pine scent when burned.

4. Eye observation: This is a trick to identify real and fake amber; the texture, color depth, transparency, refractive index, etc. of real amber will change with the change of observation angle and illumination. This feeling is not found in any other substance. Just like how we identify real and fake people, for example, a superb artist can create a lifelike wax figure of a character. "False with the real" is just talk, no matter how good the wax figure is, it cannot escape our eyes. Amber is transparent but very warm, unlike glass, crystal, and diamonds that are unobstructedly transparent. Fake amber is either very transparent or opaque, and the color is dull and fake. The artificial interior of fake amber is very dazzling and gives the impression of a lifeless cold light.

5. Ultraviolet irradiation: Put the amber under the banknote detector, it will have fluorescent light, light green, green, blue, white, etc. Plastic fake amber will not change color.

6. Friction produces static electricity: Rubbing amber on clothes can attract small scraps of paper.

7. Feel: Amber is a neutral gemstone and will not be too cold or hot under normal circumstances. And those imitated with glass will have a cooler feeling. The color is dead and fake. The artificial interior of fake amber is very dazzling and gives the impression of a lifeless cold light.

5. Ultraviolet irradiation: Put the amber under the banknote detector, it will have fluorescent light, light green, green, blue, white, etc. Plastic fake amber will not change color.

6. Friction produces static electricity: Rubbing amber on clothes can attract small scraps of paper.

7. Feel: Amber is a neutral gemstone and will not be too cold or hot under normal circumstances. And those imitated with glass will have a cooler feeling.