Researchers: Delaney Dumm and Haley Kean, 2023-24

Researchers Haley Kean and Delaney Dumm tested the effects of silver metals etched in copper sulfate mordant, and copper sulfate saline baths over the course of 6 months. The purpose of conducting research on silver metals such as steel, aluminum, and zinc is to provide information to etchers using copper sulfate solutions to obtain consistent results and expectations with these materials. The method used to conduct this experiment: Plates of zinc, aluminum, and steel were covered in BIG ground, and then drawn on with varying line values. The metals were also tested for airbrush aquatint, and open-bite self-aquatint. The tests included step etches from 30 seconds to 17 minutes equating to 17 minutes in copper sulfate mordant and copper sulfate saline. In the culmination of our research, we found that over the course of the 5 months since it was first mixed (September 29, 2023), the copper sulfate mordant maintained its strength.