What is enamel? In modern Russian, a word can have several meanings, both etymologically correct and “colloquial,” not quite correct. Let's look at technical enamel and tooth enamel as examples of the most obvious uses of the word in the literal sense. It is also worth paying attention to the concepts “enamel-paint” and “enameled utensils” that are very common in everyday life, which are not directly related to the concept of enamel itself.
Enamel: The meaning of the word. Direct meaning
So, in the technical sense of the word, enamel is a small-thickness glass-like layer that is obtained by high-temperature firing. It is in this meaning that the word "enamel" came to the Russian language from French. Moreover, the technologies of its production themselves have been known in Russia since at least the twelfth century, but then the word "enamel" was used.
What is technical enamel? It can carry both practical meaning (for example, protection against corrosion of the underlying layers) and artistic (pictorial miniatures created using the mentioned technology). It should be noted that in the common sense, finished products of production are often called enamels, especially in the plural. For example, a set of painted enamel saucers can be called a set of enamels.
The components for making enamel powder were very different depending on geography and production time. What is enamel and modern technology? Most often made from a mixture of oxides of silicon, boron, titanium, aluminum, lead, zinc and other metals.
Moreover, the addition of specific ions allows you to achieve the desired color of the finished layer. Also, over the past decades, methods for applying the initial material have improved, so there are spray guns and electrostatic chambers that allow you to achieve a very uniform layer.
"Dental" meaning
What does enamel mean? So, in anatomy and dentistry, tooth enamel is a very durable thin layer of inorganic substances (about 97%) and organic (about 3%), which protects the crown of the tooth. This material is the most anhydrous part of the human body, as well as the most durable part-time.
The exceptional hardness of tooth enamel is explained by the hydrated form of apatite, which is “reinforced” with impregnations of magnesium, chlorine, fluorine, barium, chromium, and a small number of organic substances. Of the organic components, collagen should be noted, which significantly increases the practical strength of enamel by reducing the fragility of the latter.
Strong enamel - strong teeth
For a modern person, enamel care is an important component of hygiene and prevention of diseases of the oral cavity. Mostly apatite composition protects the crown mechanically, however, it itself is poorly protected from the aggressive environment and is extremely sensitive to the acidity of the medium.
Already at pH = 4.6, the tooth enamel undergoes noticeable destruction. Normally, the acidity of saliva does not reach such values, however, bacteria in the oral cavity quickly “acidify” the environment. By-products of their activities are organic acids, which pose the greatest threat to enamel.
The problem is solved by removing food debris after eating, which deprives the microflora of nutrition itself. Another danger to enamel lies in products that initially have a pronounced acidity. So, the substances contained in some fruits (organic acids) or soft drinks (phosphoric acid) can cause harm.
What is enamel? Figurative sense
It is easy to see that the general meaning of any of the definitions of enamel is a thin protective layer. That is why in everyday life such concepts as “enameled utensils” and “enamel paint” arose. They are not related to real enamel, but verbally “enamel” has a protective meaning in them.
Enameled utensils are called household appliances in which metal (usually steel) is coated with fine glass-like ceramics. The layer has a protective function, and also avoids the contact of food and metal.
Enamel paints are protective coatings for metal components in industry, made on the basis of varnish. They contain a solvent, in fact varnish, coloring pigments, fillers and special additives. As it becomes clear, the everyday response to Voros about what “enamel” is, is not quite competent in relation to enamel paints, neither in terms of ingredients, nor in terms of the method of application to the surface.