Patination Techniques for Gun-metal: An Experimental Approach

Through this paper researcher will try to satisfy the needs of sculptors and craftsmen who produce articles in gun metal, and then as patina surface treatment. This will be done using chemicals to achieve different colors that give the piece a natural aging or antique look, by using the gun-metal's reactive nature. This paper is a description of an experimental attempt to achieve various patina colors by chemical reactions and oxidation on gun-metal. Gun-metal is chosen because in India most of the bronze sculptures casting foundries are using gun-metal instead of pure bronze because gunmetal composition is almost close to bronze and so it gives a similar result in casting or patina. This is an experimental research for the field of visual art (sculpture) by the support of science (chemistry), one more example of relation between Art and Science.