The Metals of Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is known for its carnival atmosphere, partying, and ‘throws’. The throws are usually beaded necklaces, doubloons, and other trinkets that are tossed to spectators from floats in parades. Some of the most famous U.S. Mardi Gras parades are in New Orleans.

Metals in Beads and Medallions

There are millions of pounds of beads used in the celebration every year, over 25 million pounds in New Orleans alone according to Parade.com; and although most of those necklaces are made of plastic, their colors shine because they also contain metals. Many of the inexpensive necklaces are comprised of MOT (Molded on Thread) beads, which are then applied with a metallic finish. The beads are either dipped in paint, or the paint is sprayed on the bead.

The metallic acrylic paint* is created by taking a binder made of acrylic polymer resin and water and combining it with powdered metals, pastes or flakes — including bronze, aluminum, copper, gold silver, and aluminum. Pigments are added for color. Iron oxide, stainless steel, mica and other rock powders may also be added for a reflective quality, while titanium dioxide can give the beads a shiny look. In the past, many of these cheap beads contained toxic metals, like lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and were banned. Unfortunately, despite the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) limits of lead in children’s products to under 100ppm, there are still some beads out there that contain higher concentrates of those dangerous heavy metals and should be avoided. (Read below to learn how Portable XRF analyzers are helpful in screening consumer products for lead and other toxic metals.)

The more expensive metallic beads have a metal surface coating, commonly made of nickel-plated brass, yellow brass, gilding metal, copper, or sometimes gun metal. These beads are typically used for unique jewelry necklaces, decorative chains, and crafting. Metal-lined beads are clear or transparent glass over a real metal, like silver, or metallic colored lining, and are used because they offer an inner shine and sparkle as they catch the light. Even more expensive necklaces can contain precious metal beads but would be worn at a fancy ball, never thrown in a parade.

Another metal throw that is not worn around the neck is the doubloon. Doubloons are coins stamped with images and logos of the sponsoring Krewe (social organization). These coins are usually made of aluminum and anodized in many different colors. In an article about the Origin of the Doubloon, author Edward Branley wrote that in addition to the basic aluminum doubloons thrown from floats, many Krewes mint special doubloons in bronze. Some of these are dual-colored or even tri-colored. A number of organizations carry doubloons to an even more valuable level, minting the coins in sterling silver. Krewe members give these coins away as keepsakes for family and close friends.

How Manufacturers Monitor for Toxic Metals

Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of consumer goods are challenged to meet stringent regulations on permissible levels of lead and other toxic metals in their products. Keeping these hazardous materials out of the supply chains, and out of the hands of consumers, is a mounting concern as safety audits uncover a growing number of violations. The list of affected products is long and includes toys, jewelry, clothing, furniture, and cosmetics. In the wake of numerous product recalls over a decade ago, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) was passed to regulate lead levels in children’s toys and other products.

Portable XRF analyzers are trusted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the European Union’s Product Safety Enforcement Forum (PROSAFE), and other regulatory agencies to screen consumer products for lead and other regulated elements including barium, antimony, selenium, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and hexavalent chromium. Some XRF analyzers are capable of differentiating between lead on the surface of an object such as clothing and lead that exists in all other substrates.

By enabling rapid screening of metals, plastic, wood, fabrics, and paints at the receiving dock, in the warehouse, during product assembly, and in finished goods, XRF analyzers greatly reduce the chance that hazardous materials will enter the manufacturing process or accidentally end up on store shelves — and around the necks of Mardi Gras revelers.

New Orleans Balcony Metalwork

If you happen to be in New Orleans, check out another metal that blankets the city, iron. The lacy cast iron scrollwork of gates, fences, and windows along St. Charles Avenue as well as the decorative wrought iron balconies in the French Quarter are wonderful pieces of art.

But these metal structures must also be analyzed before leaving the steel factories. Material verification for alloy quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) is critical to product safety; wrong or out-of-specification metal alloys can lead to premature and potentially catastrophic part failures. Read more about these metal artworks and the analysis technology in a previous article, The Wrought Iron Balconies of New Orleans.

More Mardi Gras Info

By the way, are you wondering why the Mardi Gras necklaces are usually purple, gold, and green? Purple means justice, gold means power, and green means faith… though in this blog, we prefer to focus on gold!

Editor Notes:

This article was originally published in March, 2014, and authored by By Jonathan Margalit, PhD but it has been updated and refreshed.
*How Is Metallic Paint Produced? http://www.ehow.com/about_6674094_metallic-paint-produced_.html