Editing Bead (section)

=== Synthetic materials ===
[[File:Crystbeads.jpg|thumb|[[Swarovski]] crystal beads ({{cvt|6–8|mm}}), pendant {{cvt|3|cm}}]]
[[File:Swedish patent 217875 Sätt att för arbetsterapi.pdf|thumb|page=3|Swedish patent 217875: The plastic bead pegboard (1962)]]

The oldest-surviving synthetic materials used for bead making have generally been [[ceramic]]s: [[pottery]] and [[glass]].<ref name=beads_nytimes /> Beads were also made from ancient alloys such as [[bronze]] and [[brass]], but as those were more vulnerable to [[oxidation]] they have generally been less well-preserved at archaeological sites.

Many different subtypes of [[glass]] are now used for beadmaking, some of which have their component-specific names. [[Lead crystal]] beads have a high percentage of [[Lead(II) oxide|lead oxide]] in the glass formula, increasing the [[refractive index]]. Most of the other named glass types have their formulations and patterns inseparable from the manufacturing process.   

Small, colorful, [[Fuse beads|fusible plastic beads]] can be placed on a solid plastic-backed peg array to form designs and then melted together with a [[Ironing|clothes iron]]; alternatively, they can be strung into necklaces and bracelets or woven into keychains. Fusible beads come in many colors and degrees of [[Transparency and translucency|transparency]]/[[opacity]], including varieties that glow in the dark or have internal [[glitter]]; peg boards come in various shapes and several geometric patterns. Plastic toy beads, made by chopping plastic tubes into short pieces, were introduced in 1958 by Munkplast AB in [[Munka-Ljungby]], Sweden. Known as [[Indian bead]]s, they were originally sewn together to form ribbons. The pegboard for bead designs was invented in the early 1960s (patented 1962, patent granted 1967) by Gunnar Knutsson in Vällingby, Sweden, as a therapy for elderly homes; the pegboard later gained popularity as a toy for children.<sup>[1]</sup> The bead designs were glued to cardboard or [[Masonite]] boards and used as [[trivet]]s. Later, when the beads were made of [[polyethylene]], it became possible to fuse them with a flat iron. Hama come in three sizes: mini (diameter 2&nbsp;mm (0.079&nbsp;in)), midi (5&nbsp;mm (0.20&nbsp;in)) and maxi (10&nbsp;mm (0.39&nbsp;in)).<sup>[2]</sup> Perler beads come in two sizes called classic (5&nbsp;mm) and biggie (10&nbsp;mm). Pyssla beads (by [[IKEA]]) only come in one size (5&nbsp;mm).