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Copper patinas formed in the atmosphere. I. Introduction.

01 January 1987

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The esthetically pleasing and protective green patina which forms on copper when it is exposed to the atmosphere is complex and has been poorly characterized. Using modem analytical techniques, more than fifteen samples of patina of varying ages and exposures have been examined in detail. A number of new components of copper patinas have been revealed, and the results, combined with atmospheric chemical information, have been used to deduce detailed mechanisms of patination. This introductory paper reviews the previously established physical and chemical characteristics of copper patinas, describes the samples studied by our colleagues and ourselves, and presents the design of the investigations reported upon in subsequent papers.