March 28, 2024, 05:36:09 PM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: Copper Sulphate art project  (Read 3992 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline joepr

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 3
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Copper Sulphate art project
« on: August 29, 2018, 08:36:04 AM »
Hello,

I'm looking at the artist Roger Hiorns, particularly his work with Copper Sulphate crystals. See attached images. Here are the questions I have:

Would someone mind guiding me through the process the artist has undergone to achieve such a uniform coating of crystals?

Do I need to prepare the metal I'm using in anyway before submerging in Copper Sulphate solution?

How long would I leave it to crystallise?

I have 2.5 kg of dry Copper Sulphate at the moment, would this be enough to coat a small engine of about 15cm in width?

Thanks in advance for your help.


Offline chenbeier

  • Sr. Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1348
  • Mole Snacks: +102/-22
  • Gender: Male
Re: Copper Sulphate art project
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2018, 10:28:43 AM »
It should work, but you have to be aware what metall your sample is made from, because copperions can react with it. So better have a coating of a plastic or a galvanoplating of copper on it first, so no copper can touch other metalls.
Check the soloubilty of coppersulfate and prepare a saturated solution were you immerse your sample. Wait some days and check sometimes the grow of the crystalls. You have to exchange sometimes the solution and remove external crystalls.

Offline joepr

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 3
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Copper Sulphate art project
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2018, 01:04:12 PM »
Thanks for your reply. Regarding the plastic, how would you recommend coating it?

Offline Mitch

  • General Chemist
  • Administrator
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5298
  • Mole Snacks: +376/-3
  • Gender: Male
  • "I bring you peace." -Mr. Burns
    • Chemistry Blog
Re: Copper Sulphate art project
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2018, 01:13:09 PM »
You can buy polyurethane in a spray can.
Most Common Suggestions I Make on the Forums.
1. Start by writing a balanced chemical equation.
2. Don't confuse thermodynamic stability with chemical reactivity.
3. Forum Supports LaTex

Offline Arkcon

  • Retired Staff
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 7367
  • Mole Snacks: +533/-147
Re: Copper Sulphate art project
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2018, 02:19:38 PM »
You'll also want to be sure that the plastic coating is rough enough for crystals to grow, you may want to try some tests.  In addition to your example, there's other copper sulfate crystal artwork to learn about: https://www.artangel.org.uk/project/seizure/
Hey, I'm not judging.  I just like to shoot straight.  I'm a man of science.

Offline joepr

  • New Member
  • **
  • Posts: 3
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Copper Sulphate art project
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2018, 05:30:51 AM »
How would I go about roughening the plastic surface? Would sandpaper do the job?

Offline chenbeier

  • Sr. Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1348
  • Mole Snacks: +102/-22
  • Gender: Male
Re: Copper Sulphate art project
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2018, 06:28:42 AM »
It would do, but careful that you dont have too large scratches down to the metal surface.

Sponsored Links