Salt and vinegar crisps experiment on comper

[Katia]

Here it is, my bit of copper ( not" comper" as it says in the title...) after 2 weeks laying on a bed of salt and vinegar crisps.
I thought you might be interested in seeing what happened!

[Tabby66]

Oooh, nice effect Katia!! 2 questions (thinking of moving forwards with the piece), what size is the piece of copper pictured and how durable do you think the finish will be?will you protect it?? (sorry, 3 questions!)!!

[Dennis]

It's pretty, but crisps could never lie about for two weeks in my house.

[Kwant]

Was thinking the same thing Dennis, even the cheap salt and vinegar which are more like battery acid and alum would be wolfed down long before that copper turned green.

[Katia]

I am a really strong willed lady it turns out! ( plus the fact that the crips were drizzled with water hence making them a tiny bit mushy which made the whole thing a bit of a no no!)

Tabby, the copper bit measures 5cm x1 cm.

You would need to seal the patina with a normal, errr, patina sealant! i am very lucky that I live near a lady who studied patination as a subject at university and I will ask here what she thinks is the best sealant.

I tried to remove the patina with my fingernail and that was possible, but I think that is what happens to most patinas when they are not protected.

I can let you know what she says if you wish?

[Tabby66]

Yes please Katia, and if she can give any indication of 'life expectancy' of the colouration and pattern with a particular protectant, that would be very helpful.........my reading thus far has been that patination has a very limited life and darkening is pretty rapid......

Many thanks for your help :)