Timeless Beauty and Durability of Aged Copper Sheets

Copper sheets are an excellent material for making different products. They are known for their decent durability and softness, which expand their usability. However, people have started using aged copper sheets, uplifting their trend. The reason is that there are many advantages of aged copper sheets, making them suitable for various products.

 

Are you one who has no prior information about aged copper sheets? If so, you are missing a big opportunity! Interestingly, this very affordable copper type can offer more perks than pure copper. I will explain everything regarding aged copper sheets and their benefits in this article. It will help you determine if these sheets fit your product or project. So, let’s get started!

 

What are Aged Copper Sheets?

Before discussing the advantages, let’s first understand the basics of aged copper sheets.

 

Aged sheets are different from pure copper. They consist of an additional dark brown or greenish-blue layer on their surface. This layer, called patina, protects the sheets from corrosion, rust, and other elements. The aging process makes these copper sheets.

 

The question is, how did this aged copper come into existence? As the name suggests, this aged copper is a result of the aging process. When pure copper is left under the effect of rain or moisture, it starts to age. The humidity comes on its surface. 

 

As a result, the oxidation process occurs on pure copper’s surface. This oxidation process results in the formation of an oxide layer called patine. Initially, this layer is reddish brown. However, its appearance changes to dark brown and greenish blue over time. 

 

The advantage of this patine is that it does not allow the mixture to contact the surface of copper. As a result, it stops further corrosion and rusting issues. This aged copper is drawn into sheets and used for different purposes. Interestingly, these aged copper sheets are stronger and more durable than pure copper sheets.

 

Advantages of Aged Copper Sheets

 

All the hype of aged copper is due to the patina. This patine (coat) is the result of the oxidation reaction. Let’s dive and discuss the advantages of aged copper sheets.

1- Unique Aesthetic Appeal

Aged copper sheets are an excellent way to enhance a product’s aesthetics. Pure copper is generally reddish and unattractive. However, when it undergoes oxidation, a patine is formed. 

The patina has a very dark brown to blue-greenish hue.

 

 The product becomes more aesthetically appealing when sheets of aged copper are used. These sheets give buildings or outdoor spaces an antique charm. Many modern homes and offices use such sheets to improve the look of different places. 

 

What I love about the aged copper sheets is that they blend easily with other materials. For example, their wood, stone, and glass combination looks natural and aesthetically pleasing. The classic copper sheets are not very attractive, making them less popular.

2- Naturally Corrosion-Resistant

Copper is decent when it comes to durability. However, it is prone to rusting. As a result, it starts to deteriorate, mainly when used in moist conditions. In such cases, aged copper replaces pure copper for many applications. Let me explain WHY!

 

The patina formed on aged copper is very durable and resistant to corrosion. Moreover, it does not allow rust-causing agents like moisture to the surface. As a result, no rusting happens to the aged copper sheets. In other words, copper offers natural corrosion resistance. You won’t have to add additional coating or paint to avoid corrosion.

3- Fire & Chemical Resistance

Copper is non-combustible and has a very high melting point. This means it can bear the higher temperature and heat without deteriorating. The aged copper, which has an additional coating, is fire-resistant. So, these sheets can be used to make products that remain near fireplaces. 

 

Some people also use them to make ventilation exhaust and fire-rated doors. Moreover, these aged copper sheets are resistant to different chemicals. For example, they are less likely to be affected if they come into contact with acids or alkaloids. This is due to the patina present on the surface of the sheets. 

4- Durable & Long-Lasting

Copper generally starts to deteriorate due to a few fundamental factors. If exposed to heat, rust, and chemicals, its life shortens. Pure copper sheets are exposed to all these factors when in outdoor conditions. 

 

As a result, their durability becomes questionable. However, the aged copper sheets don’t have any durability-related issues. As I said earlier, their surface consists of an additional layer, which increases their durability. Their performance won’t be affected even if they are used under high temperatures. 

5- Environmentally Friendly

Copper is 100% recycled material, and aged copper sheets are no exception. They can be used and reused repeatedly. During recycling, copper doesn’t lose its quality and integrity. This makes the copper sheets environmentally friendly, conserving natural resources. 

I rank both pure copper and aged copper sheets equally well. 

 

The reason is that both share an excellent level of recyclability. Not only this, but the recycling of copper is an energy-efficient process. For example, the production of new copper takes more energy. On the other hand, recycling of this material does not take that much energy. This makes the copper sheets an excellent material even for large-scale projects.

6- Cost Effective in the Long Run

The prices of copper sheets vary depending on their specification. Between pure copper and aged copper sheet, the first is more inexpensive. However, this is a half-truth, as aged copper sheets are more cost-effective. How? Because the aged copper doesn’t require additional coating or painting to avoid rusting. 

 

On the flipside, the pure copper sheets require regular maintenance. They also need a paint coat to resist the corrosion. These additional treatments make the pure copper sheets more costly in the long run. You spend slightly more on aged copper but won’t worry about coating it. It will behave excellently under bad weather conditions. Therefore, I consider aged copper sheets more valuable to money in the long run.

 

Conclusion

As I said, the tread of aged copper sheets is on the boom. These sheets offer excellent durability and are versatile for different products. You might ask yourself: should I use aged copper over pure copper? In my opinion, the answer is YES! 

 

The reason is that it offers excellent performance in the long run. The pure copper sheets are weaker and prone to rusting. Don’t get deceived by the lower initial cost of pure copper sheets. In the long run, they will need regular maintenance that costs additional bucks. Therefore, I am in favor of aged copper sheets.