Can you patina aluminum

It was a rather consistent blue-gray. While not exact, it was very close. If he chooses to send the plaque to our facility, we could, if supplied with photos of his memorial and plaques, come a bit closer.

My point is that when using a core metal, and then asking for a coloration on the metal, one's immediate solution is to simply use a topical pigment. The coloration-artist must have enough experience, but even creating a "ferrous oxidation mark" on an aluminum surface is totally doable.

One should also understand and differentiate between a "mechanical finish", which is usually created on the bare metal using some form of abrasive, and the "topical finish", which refers to any chemistry, liquid or solid, applied to the surface of the subject material. I see the solution to this question as being a selection of appropriate topical chemistries. And frankly, this is a very common practice for the entertainment industry and the prop departments and shops.

Know that "sodium hydroxide", as mentioned by others as a rapid acting oxidant, the basic chemistry of drain cleaner is sometimes used as an etchant of aluminum; meaning it will quickly oxidize and essentially remove the aluminum as though one were mechanically engraving with a rotary bit. In it's place there will be "aluminum oxide.

I'd estimate that with cans of Rust Oleum spray paint, and some stencil material custom cut to mimic a random rust-mark, and after one properly prepares the metal surface, the replication of ferrous oxide marks could be created.

All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:.

Ted Mooney , P. Striving to live Aloha finishing. Try glass bead blasting. Ken Vlach [dec] - Goleta, California. October Hi Julie. Regards, Ted Mooney , P. Furthermore, how long does it take for aluminum to oxidize? Typically the oxide could be expected to be 1. Steps Rough up the surface with sandpaper. If you want a truly distressed and aged look, but are working with shiny, new aluminum, you can sand it down. Spray your aluminum with bleach. Wear a mask and protective gloves when working with bleach.

Let the aluminum sit in the sun for a few hours. Rinse off the bleach. Bleach will not cause immediate corrosion or bubbling on aluminum foil or an aluminum surface. The bleach is not strong enough to eat away at the metal. However, bleach can change the color of the metal. So if you're planning to clean a pot or pan that you want to keep silver and shiny, avoid using bleach.

Mix this with some sawdust and leave it for a few days on the aluminium surface - it will give a corroded finish. If it is not corroded enough, put the sawdust back for a few more days or until it is the finish you need. Can aluminum patina? Traditional Black Patinas. Slate Black Patina is a versatile and unique finish for use on iron, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, bronze, brass, or copper.

Applied hot, Slate Black will create a deep brown patina on aluminum and a red-green finish on stainless steel. How fast does aluminum corrode? In industrial locations, the corrosion rates average 0. Table After the cycle is complete, carefully remove the aluminum pieces from the dishwasher. Use caution, as they may be hot.

Remove the foil around the aluminum. Repeat the process to add more patina. If you want to add more patina or increase the aged look of the aluminum, wrap the pieces in aluminum foil at a different orientation and run them through the dishwashing cycle again.

Method 3. Sprinkle oxygen-based cleaner in the bottom of a container. Choose a container large enough for your aluminum pieces to fit inside and be completely submerged. Place crumpled aluminum foil in the container to create patterns. Crumple up several pieces of aluminum foil and place them in the bottom of the container, on top of the oxygen-based cleaner.

Press them flat into the bottom of the container. Lay your aluminum pieces on top of the aluminum foil. Sprinkle more oxygen-based cleaner on top of the aluminum pieces. Several tablespoons should suffice. Spread the cleaner evenly over the metal and try to avoid building up piles of the powder on top of the aluminum.

Place something heavy on top of the aluminum. In order to keep your aluminum pieces from floating in the water, place a heavy object on top of them. You can use another piece of metal like a weight or a gear, or even a wrapped stack of dinner plates.

Pour cold water in the container. Pour cold water in the container until the entire piece of aluminum is submerged. Tip the container gently to get the cleaner to flow.

Carefully tip your container a little bit to one side and then the other in order to get the oxygen-based cleaner to flow. If the container is too heavy for you to move, gently agitate the mixture with a long spoon. Add another few tablespoons of oxygen-based cleaner to the water. Swirl the mixture to get the powder to flow through the water. The oxygen bubbles produced by the cleaner are what cause the oxidation of the aluminum and make it change colors.

Allow the aluminum to soak for at least 24 hours. Though you may begin to notice the aluminum changing color after four hours, for best results you should leave the aluminum to soak for at least 24 hours. You can leave it for up to two days if you desire a deeper color change. Remove the aluminum from the water. Take the aluminum piece out of the water. Use a razor blade or the edge of a plastic card like a hotel room key or credit card to remove any heavy crusts of oxygen-based cleaner left on the aluminum.

Rinse the aluminum with water and vinegar. Mix 1 tablespoon Pour the mixture over the aluminum or soak the aluminum in the mixture for a few minutes. Then rinse the aluminum with plain water. Allow the aluminum to dry.

Set the aluminum in a dish drainer to dry, if the piece is small enough, or prop it against a hard surface to dry if the piece is large. This aging process creates flowing gray tones in the aluminum. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.