Tarnish resistant compositions and methods of using same

Abstract

A tarnish resistant composition is provided including a plurality of colloidal metal particles including colloidal copper, silver, zinc and nickel particles and a porous material containing the colloidal metal particles. The tarnish resistant composition provides superior long lasting tarnish resistance. Also provided are containers made using the compositions of the invention.

1 . A tarnish resistant composition, comprising: 
 a plurality of colloidal metal particles, the particles being selected from the group consisting of: colloidal copper particles, colloidal silver particles, colloidal zinc particles and colloidal nickel particles; and    a porous material containing the colloidal particles.    
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said colloidal metal particles further includes silver coated copper flakes.  
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition includes at least one of colloidal copper particles and colloidal silver particles, wherein a weight percent of combined colloidal copper particles and colloidal silver particles is at least about 10% of a weight percent of the composition.  
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said composition includes at least one of colloidal copper particles and colloidal silver particles, a weight percent of combined colloidal copper particles and silver particles being at least about 50% of a weight percent of total colloidal particles in the composition.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein a balance of the weight percent of total colloidal particles includes silver coated copper flakes.  
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the weight percent of combined colloidal copper particles and colloidal silver particles is at least about 90% of the weight percent of total colloidal particles in the composition.  
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein a balance of the weight percent of total colloidal particles includes silver coated copper flakes.  
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the colloidal particles are in elemental form.  
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the colloidal particles have an average diameter of less than about 2.0 microns.  
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the colloidal particles have an average diameter of less than about 0.5 microns.  
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the colloidal particles have a surface area greater than about 2.5 square meters per gram.  
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the colloidal particles have a surface area of greater than about 5 square meters per gram.  
   
   
       13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the colloidal particles have a surface area of greater than about 10 square meters per gram.  
   
   
       14 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising zinc acetate.  
   
   
       15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the porous material is selected from the group consisting of a woven fabric, a braided fabric and a pressed fabric.  
   
   
       16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the porous material is one of a synthetic material and a natural material.  
   
   
       17 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the porous material is cotton flannel.  
   
   
       18 . A tarnish resistant container for storing tarnishable articles, comprising: 
 a plurality of colloidal particles selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, zinc and nickel;    a porous material containing the colloidal particles; and    a solid sided box, wherein one or more interior surfaces lined with the porous material.    
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the container is one of a silverware box and a jewelry box.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the colloidal particles comprise copper and silver particles in a ratio of from about 100:0 to about 50:50.  
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the colloidal particles further comprise silver coated copper.