Clay Bar Question

[SanDiegoTim]

Referring to the product used to clean contaminants from automotive paint surfaces, does anyone know if it really is it a naturally occurring clay or is it man made or perhaps a combination?

[astro]

see http://www.acmenovelties.net/cars/clay_bar.php

The clay bar is exactly what it says it is — a bar of putty-like modeling clay composed primarily of calcium salts, petroleum jelly and aliphatic acids. The clay can be easily shaped by hand, yet is stiff enough to maintain its shape

see

Plasticine

Plasticine was formulated by art teacher William Harbutt of Bathampton, in Bath, England, in 1897. He wanted a non-drying clay for use by his sculpture students. Although the exact composition is a secret, Plasticine is composed of calcium salts (principally calcium carbonate), petroleum jelly, and long-chain aliphatic acids (principally stearic acid). It is non-toxic, sterile, soft, malleable, and does not dry on exposure to air (unlike superficially similar products such as Play-Doh, which is based on flour, salt and water). It cannot be hardened by firing; it melts when exposed to heat, and is flammable at much higher temperatures.[1]