Posted 12/17/2012 7:54 pm
"I've read to soak the coin in olive oil and then pat dry. Is this a removal of the oxidized copper?"
No, that does not remove most oxidized copper.
There are (3) types of corrosion:
1. Green (active corrosion)
2. Red (active corrosion)
3. Black (inactive corrosion)
For Green or red corrosion, only fire will complete the oxidation process. Burning off the corrosion may leave 'pitting' if the corrosion has eaten into the coin. There is nothing else, other than strong acids or strong bases, that will break the Cu2O and CuS bond. Black corrosion, CuO, is Cupric Oxide and can generally be removed with acetone as it is not very active
No, that does not remove most oxidized copper.
There are (3) types of corrosion:
1. Green (active corrosion)
2. Red (active corrosion)
3. Black (inactive corrosion)
For Green or red corrosion, only fire will complete the oxidation process. Burning off the corrosion may leave 'pitting' if the corrosion has eaten into the coin. There is nothing else, other than strong acids or strong bases, that will break the Cu2O and CuS bond. Black corrosion, CuO, is Cupric Oxide and can generally be removed with acetone as it is not very active
