Detailed Explanation of Two Popular Metal Surface Processes! Material & Color Options Available, Custom Signs at Yijiao

emily4018
Jan 23
4 min read

Whether you pursue the modern texture of titanium coating or the vintage charm of patina finish, metal surface treatment can perfectly meet your needs! Below is a comprehensive guide to electroplated titanium coating and antique patina processes, covering materials, colors, production, and applications. If you need custom luminous letters, commercial signs, or other identification products, Yijiao is always here for you!

1. Material Options: Suitable for Multiple Metals, Each with Unique Texture

Both processes support customization for various metal substrates. Different materials have their own unique properties to meet the needs of different scenarios. Let’s take a look:

1.1 Brass

Features: Naturally warm and delicate metallic luster, good ductility and formability. After treatment, it can better present the brightness of titanium or the texture of vintage patina, making it an ideal choice for high-end signs and decorations.

1.2 Stainless Steel

Features: Corrosion-resistant, high-strength, and non-deformable, with excellent cost performance. Suitable for outdoor signs or decorations used for a long time. Titanium coating enhances its

2. Color Options: Diverse Color Systems +Customization, Stylish and Unique

Both the modern titanium coating and the time-honored vintage patina offer a variety of color customizations to meet different design styles.

2.1 Titanium Coating Color Options

2.2 Vintage Patina Color Options

3. Production Process: Precise Control, High Quality

3.1 Electroplated Titanium Coating Process (Applicable to Brass, Stainless Steel, etc.)

Material Preparation: Select the corresponding metal substrate according to requirements. After cutting, stamping, or welding into shape, carefully polish welds, edges, and surfaces to ensure a smooth and flawless base for subsequent coating.
Degreasing & Thermal Oil Removal: Use professional degreaser for ultrasonic degreasing, followed by high-temperature baking (120-180℃) to completely remove oil stains, polishing residues, and moisture from the substrate surface, avoiding affecting coating adhesion.
Surface Cleaning & Activation: Remove the oxide layer on the substrate surface through chemical pickling or electrolytic activation, and open metal active sites to allow the titanium coating to firmly adhere to the substrate, ensuring uniform and non-peeling coating.
Titanium Coating Application: Adopt professional electroplating process, precisely control current density (10-20A/dm²), electroplating temperature (50-60℃) and electroplating time to ensure uniform deposition of titanium ions on the substrate surface, achieving consistent color and uniform thickness of the coating effect, and ensuring process stability and finished product durability.
Cooling & Stabilization: Adopt gradient cooling (slowly cooling from process temperature to room temperature, taking 2-4 hours) to avoid coating cracking or color deviation due to excessive temperature difference, ensuring stable coating structure.
Final Inspection & QC: Each piece is inspected for surface flatness and color uniformity through cross-cut test (adhesion ≥4B), salt spray test (corrosion resistance ≥72 hours), and colorimeter test (color difference ΔE ≤1.5). Only qualified products leave the factory.

3.2 Vintage Patina Process (Applicable to Brass, Stainless Steel, etc.)

Material Preparation: Select high-quality metal substrates without pinholes or deformation. After cutting to the specified size, polish edges, welds, and surfaces to ensure a smooth and consistent base for uniform patina adhesion.
Surface Pre-treatment: Choose mechanical polishing (brushing, sandblasting) or chemical polishing according to material characteristics to remove surface oxide layers and impurities; then perform degreasing (soaking in alkaline degreaser for 15-20 minutes), and finally open metal pores with chemical activation solution (weak acid system) to improve the reaction efficiency of the patina solution.
Controlled Patina Application: Prepare special patina solution (copper-based, iron-based, etc.) according to the target color. Apply by brushing (partial patina), spraying (large-area uniform patina), or immersion (overall patina). Precisely control reaction time (5-30 minutes), solution concentration (10%-30%), and ambient temperature (20-30℃), and observe color changes in real time to achieve the desired vintage effect.
Rinsing & Neutralization: Once the target color is achieved, immediately rinse repeatedly with deionized water (3-5 times) to remove residual patina solution; then soak in neutralizing solution (weak alkaline) for 10 minutes to completely terminate the chemical reaction and prevent subsequent color changes.
l Hand Finishing: Professional craftsmen manually polish or grind key areas (corners, textures) to create light-dark layers and natural transitions, making the vintage feel more textured and in-depth, avoiding monotony.
Protective Clear Coating: Spray a low-sheen transparent protective paint (polyurethane or fluorocarbon material) with a thickness of 30-50μm. It can isolate air and moisture to prevent oxidation and fading, while retaining the original texture of the patina finish and extending service life.

4. Application Fields: Covering Multiple Scenarios, Practical and Eye-catching

With excellent texture and durability, both processes are widely used in various fields, especially favored in the sign and decoration industry:

4.1 Commercial Signs & Luminous Letters

Scenarios: Mall signs, store facades, office building guide signs, outdoor advertising luminous letters

Advantages: Titanium-coated luminous letters have a strong metallic texture, combining night lighting with daytime texture; vintage patina luminous letters have an internet-famous attribute, suitable for internet-famous stores and cultural and creative blocks, with high recognition

Cases: Vintage patina luminous letters for milk tea shops, titanium gold guide signs for high-end malls

4.2 Architectural Decoration

Scenarios: Hotel lobby metal decorations, villa railings, wall metal panels, elevator door casings

Advantages: Corrosion-resistant and easy to clean. Titanium coating exudes luxury and grandeur, while vintage patina adds layering and artistic atmosphere to the space

4.3 Cultural and Creative Products & Gifts

Scenarios: Custom metal badges, vintage keychains, cultural and creative ornaments, corporate gifts

Advantages: Lightweight (aluminum alloy) or warm texture (brass), strong color customization, can be printed with logos, with great commemorative significance

4.4 Catering & Homestay Decoration

Scenarios: Metal table borders in restaurants, vintage metal decorations on homestay walls, bar metal surfaces

Advantages: Vintage patina style fits the warm/artistic atmosphere of catering and homestays, while titanium coating is suitable for modern minimalist restaurants, easy to maintain

4.5 Industrial & Furniture

Scenarios: Industrial-style furniture accessories, metal cabinet door handles, mechanical equipment decorative panels

Advantages: High strength and wear resistance. Titanium coating is scratch-resistant, while vintage patina neutralizes the coldness of industrial style

5. Demand Connection: For Luminous Letters/Sign Customization, Choose Yijiao!

If you are looking for high-quality metal surface treatment solutions, whether it’s luminous letter production, commercial sign customization, or material process needs for architectural decoration and cultural and creative gifts, Yijiao can provide one-stop services—supporting material customization, exclusive color matching, and on-demand shape design. We follow up the entire process from production to installation to ensure the finished product meets your expectations!

For inquiries, welcome to send a private message, make a call, or visit our offline exhibition hall to inspect materials and color swatches in person. Yijiao uses professional craftsmanship to escort the realization of your creativity!

For more information about signage or custom projects, please contact our team for professional support.