Precious Metal Clay is a patented material developed by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation of Japan in 1993. The principle ingredient in PMC is tiny metal particles only 20 microns in diameter. As a point of reference,  it would take as many as 25 of these particles to make a single grain of table salt. The remainder of the material consists of water and an organic binder. After firing, both the water and binder have been completely removed, so PMC may be hallmarked and will assay as .999 pure.

Three years after introducing PMC, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation developed a second version, called PMC⁺ . Marking a historical point in the process of precious metal production,  PMC+ cut the firing time and working temperature of such materials significantly.

Then in 2002 Mitsubishi Materials Corporation developed yet another version of silver clay, called PMC³. By incorporating even smaller particles of silver into the clay like medium, this third generation of PMC fires even cooler than PMC+. PMC3 fires faster and has a higher tensile strength than either of the previous silver clays.

PMC may be hallmarked and will assay as .999 pure.

	PMC	PMC+	PMC3
Workability	Excellent	Slightly Stiff	Excellent
Strength	pretty good	very good	very good
Recommendations	pendants	rings	rings
	brooches	pendants	charms
	charms beads	bracelets	pendants

All three kinds of clay are worked with the same tools, fired in the same kiln, and can be finished in exactly the same way. However, PMC+ and PMC3 fires in a much shorter amount of time and shrinks less!  PMC products can be worked with in much the same manner as modeling clays. Many techniques can be incorporated ranging from hand forming, coiling, throwing on a wheel, and sculpting with simple tools. The PMC slip can be painted on or dipped. The syringe can be used to make fine detailed pieces, or add detail to a piece formed from the clay PMC.

Firing Schedules for PMC products *Indicated weight shows the silver content per package. Silver PMC (original)  can be fired for 2 hours at 1650°F - 900°C  Shrinkage  25-30% Silver PMC+ can be fired using one of three schedules: 10 minutes at 1650°F - 900°C 20 minutes at 1560°F - 850°C 30 minutes at 1470°F - 800°C Shrinkage  only 10-15% Silver PMC3 can be fired using one of three schedules: 10 minutes at 1290°F - 700°C 20 minutes at 1200°F - 650°C 30 minutes at 1110°F - 600°C Shrinkage only 10-15% Melting Point For Fine Silver 1752°F Gold PMC 24k can be fired for  for 2 Hours at 1830°F - 1000°C Shrinkage  25-30%. All Precious Metal Clay Products Must Be Fired.

Finishing is almost as versatile as the forming process. A soft brass brush is one of the best ways to begin burnishing your new creation, followed by a polishing compound and even metal polishing tools. Silver PMC can be colored  with liver of sulfur an excellent oxidizer, or colorants  and soldered as with conventional metals. For Embedding Objects Into PMC+ Try; CZ-Cubic Zirconia, Synthetic Ruby,  Synthetic Sapphire, High Fired Ceramics, Enamel Powder, and More!