8215158 PATINA GREEN SKIN

Try soap and water, if the patina layer isn’t much.

It’s straightforward to get rid of the gree layer on copper alloy jewelry. So, haven read this far, why does brass turn green? How Do You Get Rid of Patina? I remember thinking that the Statue of Liberty’s always-green color was a paint job, a perfect one at that too, but the reality? In case you didn’t know, it was made from copper, hence the reason it’s green all year round! Some people may think that this green discoloration or the green goop, is a metal allergic reaction from wearing copper alloy jewelry, which of course isn’t true. This green discoloration is as a result of copper chelates entering the skin, and it is a normal, and unharmful phenomena, and is absolutely no reason to worry.

8215158 PATINA GREEN SKIN

Some people do experience a green discoloration on their skin after wearing a copper alloy (brass, bronze, sterling silver jewelry) jewelry for some duration of time. When brass turns green, you must know that it is a natural process. The green residue isn’t as vicious as rust on metal, this green substance is using the green layer to protect your jewelry, and once it has completely covered the jewelry, then the patina process stops. It would only get covered in the patina layer until you clean it off.

This happens because the copper content of the metal oxidizes with the oxygen and other elements in the air, to form this beautiful green layer! (which is totally, easily washable)īut no, your almost brand-new patina-infested, (kidding,) your brand new jewelry is not going to rust away as iron would completely. The presence of copper in brass alloy makes it possible for its alloys to turn green. This reaction makes the metal to lose some of its properties, and that’s why rust, or in the case of brass, bronze, copper, and zinc patina happens. However, in plain English, oxidation means the metal is reacting with the molecules and ions in the air. I won’t go into the chemical definition of oxidation. Patina is to brass, as rust is to iron, but they both are a type of corrosion due to a term called oxidation.

Patina occurs as a result of a chemical process between a metal the ions in the air, and sweat from your skin. Patina is a type of corrosion, albeit, light corrosion on some metals like brass, copper, silver, and bronze.ĭo you know how iron steels would rust and turn red when left in the open for too long? Well, that’s what the green residue on your jewelry is. The green residue which you noticed on your jewelry is called patina, cute name, right? When that happens, the brass jewelry will produce greenish corrosion on the its surface, and that green disposition is called patina. So now let’s talk about the elephant in the room, why does brass turn green?ĭepending on the use or absence of coating, also known as plating, brass metals would turn green after a while. We use brass to produce many things which are found in our everyday life, from doorknobs to bathroom fittings, home decorations, even on parts of some machinery. This copper alloy, though dullish yellow in color, a dullish-golden yellow, would turn green after some time, as long as it kept in the open air! Brass is customarily made of copper to zinc ratio in the form of 67% and 33%, respectively. No, you’re not turning into a green alien, the green coloration won’t gradually turn your whole body green.įirst, let’s talk about brass, What is Brass?īrass is an alloy of copper an alloy made using copper and zinc.

What about your skin? Did it turn green too?Īre you among those with the leach-prone skin? It doesn’t make any sense that an entirely “white jewelry you bought has now magically turned into green! I bet this was the question on your mind the morning you noticed a green taint on your newly bought brass jewelry. 6.1 Facebook Comments Why Does Brass Turn Green?

8215158 patina green