Enamel Sign

Enamel (also known as vitreous enamel or porcelain enamel), in the art technology terms, is the richly coloured result which is obtained when powdered glass is fused to a substrate by firing, usually at a temperature of 750 to 850 degrees Celsius. In the process, glass powder melts and then flows and hardens to form a smooth, durable vitreous coating on the coating surface. The coating surface is usually metal; however glass and ceramic are also frequently used. The glass can also be applied as a paste, which may be transparent or opaque.

Enamel has found many applications as it is hard, smooth, durable, chemically resistant, can assume long-lasting, brilliant colours, and does not catch fire. Enamel is used in cooking pots, interior oven walls, cast iron bathtubs, exterior walls of kitchen appliances, farm storage silos, and processing equipment like pharmaceutical chemical process tanks and chemical reactors. Enamel was widely used in the 20th century in the making of advertising signs, street signs, railway station nameplates, etc. Collecting of enamel signs belonging to the early 20th century is a widely popular hobby in the UK, and one can find many enamel signs on sale on many online shopping portals.