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Correlation between natural aging and lab tests on brass components with gold plating

Q. I'm trying to correlate the natural aging of brass gold plated components used on city bags with lab tests (prohesion, etc.).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to perform this task?

Which duration of test to simulate 5 years use in a tropical country, for example?

What about natural aging in the desert or Florida: what is the duration correlation between this aging and natural aging of components on a city bag in Hong Kong, for example?

Any clues will help me...

Thanks.

marc sjostedt
- france
1999

1999

Hi, I will be happy to offer my thoughts on your questions:

Q. I'm trying to correlate the natural aging of brass gold plated components used on city bags with lab tests (prohesion, etc.).

1. What is a "city bag"?. If I assume it is a ladies hand bag, you could have gold plated brass components. 2. I don't know what "natural aging" might be. The surface of the component will be attacked by oxygen, perspiration salt, acidic oils from the skin, humidity in the general atmosphere.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to perform this task?

1. Correlation comes from comparing the accelerated test to actual aging. So it takes a long time. Sorry about that:-)

Which duration of test to simulate 5 years use in a tropical country, for example?

1. If you can find the right accelerated test, you might find that you could predict 5 years of use in 5 minutes!

What about natural aging in the desert or Florida: what is the duration correlation between this ageing and natural ageing of components on a city bag in Hong Kong, for example?

1. My guess is that you will find, on a hand bag clasp, which is touched many times in a day, that failure of the coating is from the acids from perspiration, not from exposure to the general atmosphere. The higher relative humidity in Hong Kong may cause the attack to proceed faster in that town than in Phoenix, Arizona.
2. If you are talking about a knapsack, which may not be as well cared for as a ladies handbag, then the general atmosphere may be more important.

Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania

2002

Hello,

Recently, I purchased some jewelry that I was told was 24K gold plated. The pieces are very beautiful and I think they may make good gifts in my home country. However, they are somewhat fragile and I am afraid that the finish will wear off quickly and that I may have some problems. It is hot in my country and I don't know if that will speed up the process. Is there any way to test/ know how long the plating will last. Even knowing if it will last 1 year or 5 years would be helpful. Thank you very much for help.

Respectfully, Dioumy

Dioumy Ndour
- Newark, Delaware USA

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