gipsowy

Gipsowy is a Polish adjective meaning related to gypsum (gips) or plaster, and is used to describe materials, objects or conditions that are made of gypsum or have plaster-like properties. The term appears in both construction and art, as well as in medicine, referring to plaster casts and bindings.

Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. When heated to about 150°C, it loses water and becomes plaster of Paris (CaSO4·0.5H2O). When mixed with water, plaster rehydrates and hardens. Gypsum is lightweight and brittle, easy to mold, and resistant to fire, making it suitable for casts, molds, various finishes, and educational or artistic uses.

Common applications of gipsowy materials include plaster tynkowy (gypsum plaster for walls and ceilings), gips szpachlowy (spackling plaster), and płyty gipsowo-kartonowe (gypsum board or drywall). In art, gipsowe odlewy (plaster casts) and sculptural models are produced from gypsum. In dentistry, gips dentystyczny (dental gypsum) is used to create precise dental models and casts.

In medicine, gipsowy opatrunek (plaster cast) is used to immobilize fractures and stabilize limbs during healing. Plaster bandages are typically applied over a soft padding to form a rigid support.

Safety and handling considerations include inhalation of gypsum dust, which can irritate eyes, skin, and airways. Gypsum is generally considered low-toxicity, but proper ventilation and personal protective equipment are advised during processing. Waste gypsum should be disposed of according to local regulations, though it is often treated as inert mineral material if uncontaminated. The term gipsowy ultimately derives from the mineral gips, itself from Latin or Greek roots referring to gypsum.