Everything you need to know about Non-Ferrous and Red Metals.

At Capisco we specialise in the patination of ‘red metals’ - all of which contain copper - which gives them their reddish quality.

Whether you recognise them or not, red metals are everywhere - coins, plumbing, architecture etc.

The common alloys made of red metal are copper, brass, and bronze. Despite all being considered red metals they have very different properties.

Red metals are non-ferrous, which means they are inherently highly resistant to corrosion in comparison to  ferrous metals, like iron and steel. This makes it ideal for items that need to be resistant to rust. 

All copper alloys are non-ferrous but there are other non-ferrous metals such as aluminium and lead. The difference between these and red-metals is these do not contain any copper and are not ‘red’ in colour.

In general Capisco do not offer patination for these metals.

How are Red Metals made?

Copper is one of few metallic materials that can be used directly in its’ natural state for a range of applications. 

Mining Red Metals

In the past copper production required a lot of energy both in extraction and in refinement. 1 kilogram of copper is obtained from every 100kg of rock removed. 

Thankfully advancements in the production of copper have reduced energy consumption by over 50% compared to a few decades ago. Most of today’s mined (instead of recycled) copper is chemically combined with sulfur and extracted from sulfide ores.

Recycled Red Metals.

There has been a move in the copper industry towards adopting recycling techniques, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Red metals can be recycled infinitely without affecting their composition. Thus if you want to create long-lasting facades with low carbon footprint brass is certainly a sustainable option.

Recycling red metals generates a lower carbon footprint than say aluminium or steel which are more energy intensive to recycle thus making it a more ‘eco-friendly’ option than other metal types.

What are the differences between the Red Metals?

COPPER

Copper was one of the first ‘native metals’ ever mined, first cast by in 4000BC.  It is still one of the few metal materials that can be directly used in its natural state.

Highly durable yet malleable copper has numerous advantageous properties in terms of thermal conduction and electrical/mechanical production. 

As copper is resistant to corrosion and has anti-bacterial properties, it is perfect for ‘interactive surfaces’ like countertops, doorknobs, bathtubs, and sinks. 

Like Brass & Bronze it can withstand wet environments making it an ideal material for plumbing and roofing applications.

BRASS

Brass is created by combining zinc and copper with small amounts of other metals. It shares many of the same attributes as copper and bronze but is more cost effective.

Like copper, brass is resistant to corrosion and has high durability, making it ideal for artworks and architectural purposes.

The color of this metal varies depending on the amount of zinc in the alloy. Brass higher in zinc is stronger and more durable.

BRONZE

Bronze is a copper alloy formed from a combination of tin and other elements like phosphorus, silicon, and aluminium.

Silicon bronze is about as strong as steel. 

WHAT METAL IS BEST FOR PATINATION?

Each metal has its’ own properties. We are happy to advise the best material for your project depending on the desired effect/structural suitability. Our most used material is brass.

In our fabrication work we use recycled brass & copper sheet in Brass grade CZ108.

When working with free issue material we encourage the contractor to use recycled brass and environmentally-friendly packaging. 

We invite clients to return ‘used’ samples to us for recycling. Please contact the office at capisco@patination.com for details.