Electric Paint from Bare Conductive Sparks Creativity

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electric-paintWhen you think of painting, electricity probably doesn’t register in your brain right away. Seems like a possibly challenging combination – to put it mildly. However, that train of thought is not what occurred to the bright minds at Bare Conductive. No, these innovators created an electric paint and a range of engaging kits that demonstrate the different ways you can use it. From paint, to starter kits and just recently the company’s own line of hardware, Bare Conductive creates products that make electronics fun and intuitive by blending concepts of design and technology.

The first thought that came to mind when we heard of this amazing was, “Wait, how does it work?” Studica always tries to provide students, educators and those interested in technology with cutting-edge, innovative products. So of course, we did a little investigating and got to know more about this wonder paint from the makers themselves.

What is Electric Paint?

Bare Conductive’s Electric Paint is a non-toxic, water based, water soluble, electrically conductive paint. It adheres to a wide variety of substrates and is easily removed with water. At this time, the paint only comes in black, but it can be over-painted with any material compatible with a water-based paint. This paint works with low voltage DC power sources. It is able to power small devices and creates a unique microcontroller interface.

bare conductive electric paintThe drying time for Electric Paint is between 5 to 15 minutes in a room temperature environment. The great thing about the drying process – besides its relatively fast drying time – is that the paint does not give off fumes. The paint’s flexibility is dependent on the thickness at which it is applied and the choice of surface. A consistent layer of paint creates the most flexible circuitry, while surfaces that are flexible, but do not stretch work better to ensure there are no fractures. This kind of functionality makes Electric Paint also ideal for cold soldering. This material is strong and almost infinitely repairable, which allows for components to be cleaned and re-used.

Bare Conductive Electric Paint in Action

Since its introduction, Electric Paint has been incorporated into various projects ranging from engineering designs to fine art. While it is safe for children and Bare promotes a number of student activities, young generations aren’t the only ones experimenting with it. Artist, Xavi Sole Mora, created an amazing re-imagining of Goya’s ‘Qué pico de oro! ‘. His piece, ‘The Gift of the Gab’, used electric paint in conjunction with Arduino Mega and Raspberry Pi to trigger MP3 sounds and servos via touch.

Spark your own creativity and experiment with electric paint, or delve into the company’s unique design kits with Bare Conductive’s Robot Parade. No matter what you do, you’ll definitely have fun doing it. At home or in the classroom, the possibilities with Electric Paint are endless.

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