Patina

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the village in Estonia, see Pattina. For the United States Navy ship, see USS
Pattina (SP-675).

Copper roof on the Minneapolis City Hall, coated with patina

The Dresden Frauenkirche, with black patina on the older stones.

Patina (/ptn/ or /ptin/) is a thin layer that variously forms on the surface of stone; on
copper, bronze and similar metals (tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical
processes);[1] on wooden furniture (sheen produced by age, wear, and polishing); or any such
acquired change of a surface through age and exposure. Patinas can provide a protective
covering to materials that would otherwise be damaged by corrosion or weathering. They may
also be aesthetically appealing.
On metal, patina is a coating of various chemical compounds such as oxides, carbonates,
sulfides, or sulfates formed on the surface during exposure to atmospheric elements (oxygen,
rain, acid rain, carbon dioxide, sulfur-bearing compounds), a common example of which is
rust which forms on iron or steel when exposed to oxygen. Patina also refers to accumulated

changes in surface texture and colour that result from normal use of an object such as a coin
or a piece of furniture over time.[2]
Archaeologists also use the term "patina" to refer to a corticated layer that develops over time
that is due to a range of complex factors on flint tools and ancient stone monuments.[1] This
has led stone tool analysts in recent times to generally prefer the term "cortification" as a
better term to describe the process than "patination".[3]
In geology and geomorphology, the term "patina" is used to refer to discolored film or thin
outer layer produced either on or within the surface of a rock or other material by either the
development of a weathering rind within the surface of a rock, the formation of desert varnish
on the surface of a rock, or combination of both. It also refers to development as the result of
weathering of a case-hardened layer, called "cortex" by geologists, within the surface of either
a flint or chert nodule.[4][5]
Contents

1 Etymology

2 Acquired patina

3 Applied patina

4 Repatination

5 See also

6 References

7 Further reading

8 External links

Etymology

The word "patina" comes from the Latin for "shallow dish". Figuratively, patina can refer to
any fading, darkening or other signs of age, which are felt to be natural or unavoidable (or
both).
The chemical process by which a patina forms is called patination, and a work of art coated
by a patina is said to be patinated.
Acquired patina

See: Natural copper patinas

The Statue of Liberty gets its green color from the natural patina formed on its
copper surface.

Natural copper patina at the Nordic Embassies, in Berlin, Germany.[6]

The green patina that forms naturally on copper and bronze, sometimes called verdigris,
usually consists of varying mixtures of copper chlorides, sulfides, sulfates and carbonates,
depending upon environmental conditions such as sulfur-containing acid rain.[7][8][9][10] In clean
air rural environments, the patina is created by the slow chemical reaction of copper with
carbon dioxide and water, producing a basic copper carbonate. In industrial and urban air
environments containing sulfurous acid rain from coal-fired power plants or industrial
processes, the final patina is primarily composed of sulphide or sulphate compounds.[11][12][13]
A patina layer takes many years to develop under natural weathering. Buildings in damp
coastal/marine environments will develop patina layers faster than ones in dry inland areas.

Facade cladding (copper cladding; copper wall cladding) with alloys of copper, e.g. brass or
bronze, will weather differently than "pure" copper cladding. Even a lasting gold colour is
possible with copper-alloy cladding, for example Colston Hall in Bristol, or the Novotel at
Paddington Central, London.
Often, antique and well-used firearms will develop a patina on the steel after the bluing,
parkerizing, or other finish has worn. Firearms in this state are generally considered more
valuable than ones that have been re-blued or parkerized. The patina protects the firearm from
the more damaging rust that would occur were the patina to be polished off.
Applied patina

See: Chemically induced copper patinas

Artists and metalworkers often deliberately add patinas as a part of the original design and
decoration of art and furniture, or to simulate antiquity in newly made objects. The process is
often called distressing.
A wide range of chemicals, both household and commercial, can give a variety of patinas.
They are often used by artists as surface embellishments either for color, texture, or both.
Patination composition varies with the reacted elements and these will determine the color of
the patina. For copper alloys, such as bronze, exposure to chlorides leads to green, while
sulfur compounds (such as "liver of sulfur") tend to brown. The basic palette for patinas on
copper alloys includes chemicals like ammonium sulfide (blue-black), liver of sulfur (brownblack), cupric nitrate (blue-green) and ferric nitrate (yellow-brown). For artworks, patination
is often deliberately accelerated by applying chemicals with heat. Colors range from matte
sandstone yellow to deep blues, greens, whites, reds and various blacks. Some patina colors
are achieved by the mixing of colors from the reaction with the metal surface with pigments
added to the chemicals. Sometimes the surface is enhanced by waxing, oiling, or other types
of lacquers or clear-coats. More simply, the French sculptor Auguste Rodin used to instruct
assistants at his studio to urinate over bronzes stored in the outside yard. A patina can be
produced on copper by the application of vinegar (acetic acid). This patina is water-soluble
and will not last on the outside of a building like a "true" patina. It is usually used as pigment.
Patina is also found on slip rings and commutators. This type of patina is formed by
corrosion, what elements the air might hold, residue from the wear of the carbon brush and
moisture; thus, the patina need special conditions to work as intended.
Patinas can also be found in woks or other metal baking dishes, which form when properly
seasoned. The patina on a wok is a dark coating of oils that have been burned onto it to
prevent food sticking and to enhance the flavor of the foods cooked in it. Steaming foods or
using soap on a wok or other dishware could damage the patina and possibly allow rust.
Knife collectors that own "carbon steel" blades sometimes force a patina onto the blade to
help protect it and give it a more personalized look. This can be done using various chemicals

and substances such as muriatic acid or apple cider vinegar. It can also be done by sticking the
blade into any acidic vegetable or fruit such as a potato or apple.

The admiralty brass statue of Joseph I of Portugal in Commerce Square, Lisbon,

with a surface layer of green patina caused by advanced oxydation (2011).

The same statue in 2015, after removal of the patina (2012-13), showing the
original 1775 finish. The dark colour of the statue made English sailors call the
square that houses it "Black Horse Square".
Repatination

In the case of antiques, several views are held on the value of patination and its replacement if
damaged, known as repatination.
Preserving a piece's look and character is important and removal or reduction may
dramatically reduce its value. If patination has flaked off, repatination may be recommended.
[14]

Appraiser Reyne Haines notes that "a repatinated metal piece will be worth more than one
with major imperfections in the patina," but less than a piece still with its original finish.[14]