Bronze Powders. The fine flaky form of a metal for coloring a surface and as a release agent. In most applications the metal is suspended insoluble in a suitable liquid; in others it is used dry. Despite its name (it is named more for the process of bronzing than for a composition of bronze metal), bronze powders can be of any metal, as copper, aluminum, or such, each selected for its color.

For electroforming. The dry bronze powders are used in electroforming, where

the copper powder is coated on a model or pattern to make it electrically conductive in the electrolytic tank. The powder also acts as a release agent or parting agent when the shell and pattern are taken out of the tank and the two are broken apart. See electroforming.

For coloring and finishing. When suspended in a liquid it is like a pigment to give a metallic appearance and color to a surface. It adheres to the surface but after the liquid evaporates the coated surface is fragile and unstable. It must be varnished or lacquered to prevent it from rubbing off.

In finishing applications bronze powders can be dissolved directly in the liquid lacquer and this becomes a tinted lacquer for spray coating a surface. See lacquering.

Mosaic gold. One form of bronze powders is made from tin and sulfur; it is used for imitation gold color when a very cheap gold coloring process is required. It is applied and treated like any other tinted lacquer.