Air clay and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

An air clay and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes i) selecting at least one raw material from a group consisting of sand powder, shell powder, crop powder and a mixture thereof, ii) finely grinding the raw material to prepare a base material having a particle diameter of about 0.02 mm to about 0.2 mm, iii) adding about 10 wt. parts to about 30 wt. parts of glycerin to about 100 wt. parts of the base material, iv) mixing and kneading these materials together to form a paste and v) adding about 0.1 wt. parts to about 9 wt. parts of a liquid coagulating agent for water treatment to the paste and mixing these materials together. According to one embodiment, the clay is useful for various types of play and learning for infants and young children.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of manufacturing an air clay, comprising:
 selecting at least one raw material from a group consisting of sand powder, shell powder, crop powder and a mixture thereof; 
 finely grinding the raw material to prepare a base material having a particle diameter of about 0.02 mm to about 0.2 mm; 
 adding at least about 10 wt. parts to about 30 wt. parts of glycerin to about 100 wt. parts of the base material; 
 mixing and kneading these materials together to form a paste; and 
 adding about 0.1 wt. parts to about 9 wt. parts of a liquid coagulating agent for water treatment to the paste and mixing these materials together, wherein the air clay is configured to absorb air and become loose and fluffy by stretching the air clay while the air clay releases air and returns to a dense and hard state by kneading and compressing the air clay. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the base material comprises sand powder. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 adding about 0.1 wt. parts to about 3 wt. parts of polyglutamic acid in a powder state after the addition of the coagulating agent for water treatment; and 
 mixing the materials together. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising adding a pigment to the mixture. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adding about 0.1 wt. parts to about 3 wt. parts of polyglutamic acid in a powder state after the addition of the coagulating agent for water treatment; and 
 mixing the materials together. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising adding a pigment to the mixture. 
     
     
       7. An air clay comprising:
 about 100 wt. parts of a base material having a particle diameter of about 0.02 mm to about 0.2 mm formed from a raw material from a group consisting of sand powder, shell powder, crop powder and a mixture thereof; 
 at least about 10 wt. parts to about 30 wt. parts of glycerin; and 
 about wt. parts 0.1 to about 9 wt. parts of a liquid coagulating agent for water treatment, wherein the air clay is configured to absorb air and become loose and fluffy by stretching the air clay while the air clay releases air and returns to a dense and hard state by kneading and compressing the air clay. 
 
     
     
       8. The air clay according to  claim 7 , wherein the base material is sand powder. 
     
     
       9. The air clay according to  claim 8 , further comprising about 0.1 wt. parts to about 3 wt. parts of polyglutamic acid in a powder state. 
     
     
       10. The air clay according to  claim 8 , further comprising a pigment. 
     
     
       11. The air clay according to  claim 7 , further comprising about 0.1 wt. parts to about 3 wt. parts of polyglutamic acid in a powder state. 
     
     
       12. The air clay according to  claim 7 , further comprising a pigment.