Simulated patina for copper

Abstract

A process for imparting a simulated patina appearance to a copper substrate, and a substrate having that appearance. A colorant having the desired initial patina color tone is employed to produce a non-continuous layer of colorant on the surface of a copper substrate. The appearance of patination of the desired tone is created by interspersed spots of colorant with the remaining portion of the substrate being exposed for natural patination. The interspersed spots of colorant may be produced by screen printing, by spattering, as by spraying, or by mechanical removal of colorant after application to the substrate surface, or a combination. The colorant is preferably a paint and may be applied by non-uniform spraying on the substrate surface. Non-uniformity may be accomplished by varying the volume of colorant sprayed during the application process or by varying the relative movement of the spray and substrate. After application, the colorant provides a simulated patina to the copper substrate surface while allowing the remaining (non-covered) portion of the substrate to patinate naturally.

1 . A process for imparting a simulated patina appearance to a: copper substrate comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a colorant having the desired initial patina color tone; and    producing a noncontinuous layer of said colorant on a surface of the copper substrate to provide the appearance of patination of the desired tone via interspersed spots of said colorant, the remaining portion of said substrate being exposed for natural patination.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of producing comprises the step of spattering said colorant on said copper substrate surface.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein said spattering step is performed to produce non-uniform spattering of said colorant on said copper substrate surface.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said producing step further comprises the step of mechanically removing colorant from said copper substrate surface.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein said mechanically removing step is performed to produce a non-uniform distribution of colorant spots on said copper substrate surface.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 2  wherein said spattering step comprises painting a colorant on said copper substrate surface.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 2  wherein said spattering step comprises printing a colorant on said copper substrate surface.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 2  wherein said spattering step comprises roll coating a colorant on said copper substrate surface.  
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said producing step comprises the steps of: 
 applying said colorant to said copper substrate surface; and,    mechanically and non-uniformly removing colorant from said copper substrate surface.    
   
   
       10 . A substrate colored according to the process of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said colorant is paint.  
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said producing step comprises the step of spraying said colorant on said copper substrate surface.  
   
   
       13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of producing comprises the step of non-uniformly spraying said colorant on said copper substrate surface.  
   
   
       14 . The process of  claim 13  wherein the step of non-uniformly spraying comprises the step of varying the density of colorant applied to said substrate.  
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 13  wherein the step of non-uniformly spraying comprises the step of varying the relative movement of said substrate and colorant spray.  
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 13  wherein the step of non-uniformly spraying comprises the step of varying the volume of colorant sprayed.  
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of producing comprises the step of printing said colorant on said copper substrate surface.  
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 17  wherein the step of printing comprises the step of screen printing.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 18  wherein the step of screen printing comprises the steps of printing multiple colors.  
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of producing comprises the step of roll coating said colorant on said copper substrate surface.