Letter 1361

Clear coat on heat-colored copper

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ArtFire works with heat-colored copper.

As you probably know, beautiful, vibrant colors are produced when heat is applied to copper.

The problem is that the colored surface must be protected by an aerosol applied clear coat, which upon contact with the colored copper reduces the brilliance of the colors. I need to find a clear coat that does not compromise the intensity and beauty of the colors that give our products their appeal. Any suggestions? Thanks so much for your attention,

Rainer Brakmann
ArtFire

What is this product called ArtFire and who supplies it?

dana Kephart
OffShore ArtWorks

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

You might try a clear powder coat like the ones produced by Tiger Drylac. I have seen polished brass crowd control railings and other such polished parts/fittings be successfully clear powdercoated without affecting the color. The trick was to cure at the lowest temp. possible and to ramp up the temp. slowly enough that the powder flows and protects the surface from the atmosphere prior to the heat necessary to cure the coating. If the ramp time was too fast, the parts would oxidize and then darken to an undesirable color. Also, if the cure time and temp. was not controlled at the minimum times the same thing would happen. The thickness of the powder needed to be kept below 3-31/2 mils. However, a high volume of satisfactory parts are being produced using this process. Perhaps this would work for you. The powder coat gave a very durable and pleasing appearance.

Ward Barcafer, CEF
aerospace - Wichita, Kansas

Try paste wax-it darkens slightly, but holds up and the colors still shine.

Missy Hamilton