Metallised molecular models

Sometimes you want the appearance of a metal molecular model, but you don't want either the cost or the weight of metal. It may be, for example, that you need something that is too large to be made from metal, or the metal you want would be far too rare for practical construction.

Most commonly, we are asked for a model that looks like gold; although gold paint would give the approximately correct colour, it still doesn't look like gold because it simply doesn't have the correct metallic sheen. Realistically, there are very few people who would ever want to go to the expense of paying for models constructed from real gold balls and rods - we could coat such models with gold leaf, but that is still an expensive option.

 

That's where metallisation comes in. We make up a conventional molecular model of any kind that you want and have it vacuum coated with metal. Although metallisation is possible in principle using almost any metal, it is normally done with aluminium. Aluminium has a relatively low boiling point, and it a suitably neutral colour for the next stage of the process. To alter the appearance of the aluminised model, it is then coated with a lacquer that is tinted to give the colour of your chosen metal - gold, silver, aluminium, chrome, iron, steel, nickel, pewter, lead, or coloured metallic finishes - anything is possible.

 

Metallised small organic molecular model

 

The result is a molecular model that looks like it has been made from silver, gold or any other metal. Until you pick up the model and feel that the weight doesn't match that of metal, you really can't tell the difference.

 

One of our metallised models used in a display by L'Oreal