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A Standard Procedure For Quality Assurance Deviation Management
February 22, 2012 | 
Author What is a Deviation:
A Deviation is a departure from standard procedures or specifications resulting in non-conforming material and/or processes or where there have been unusual or unexplained events which have the potential to impact on product quality, system integrity or personal safety. For compliance to GMP and the sake of continuous improvement, these deviations are recorded in the form of Deviation Report (DR).
Types of Deviations:
1. Following are some examples of deviations raised from different functional areas of business:
2. Production Deviation – usually raised during the manufacture of a batch production.
3. EHS Deviation – raised due to an environmental, health and safety hazards.
4. Quality Improvement Deviation – may be raised if a potential weakness has been identified and the implementation will require project approval.
5. Audit Deviation – raised to flag non-conformance identified during internal, external, supplier or corporate audits.
6. Customer Service Deviation – raised to track implementation measures related to customer complaints.
7. Technical Deviation – can be raised for validation discrepancies. For example: changes in Manufacturing Instruction.
8. Material Complaint – raised to document any issues with regards to non-conforming, superseded or obsolete raw materials/components, packaging or imported finished goods.
9. System Routing Deviation – raised to track changes made to Bill of materials as a result of an Artwork change.
When to Report Deviation:
A Deviation should be raised when there is a deviation from methods or controls specified in manufacturing documents, material control documents, standard operating procedure for products and confirmed out of specification results and from the occurrence of an event and observation suggesting the existence of a real or potential quality related problems.
A deviation should be reported if a trend is noticed that requires further investigation.
All batch production deviations (planned or unintended) covering all manufacturing facilities, equipments, operations, distribution, procedures, systems and record keeping must be reported and investigated for corrective and preventative action.
Reporting deviation is required regardless of final batch disposition. If a batch is rejected a deviation reporting is still required.
Different Levels of Deviation Risks:
For the ease of assessing risk any deviation can be classified into one of the three levels 1, 2 & 3 based on the magnitude and seriousness of a deviation.
Level 1: Critical Deviation
Deviation from Company Standards and/or current regulatory expectations that provide immediate and significant risk to product quality, patient safety or data integrity or a combination/repetition of major deficiencies that indicate a critical failure of systems
Level 2: Serious Deviation
Deviation from Company Standards and/or current regulatory expectations that provide a potentially significant risk to product quality, patient safety or data integrity or could potentially result in significant observations from a regulatory agency or a combination/repetition of “other” deficiencies that indicate a failure of system(s).
Level 3: Standard Deviation
Observations of a less serious or isolated nature that are not deemed Critical or Major, but require correction or suggestions given on how to improve systems or procedures that may be compliant but would benefit from improvement (e.g. incorrect data entry).
How to Manage Reported Deviation:
The department Manager or delegate should initiate the deviation report by using a standard deviation form as soon as a deviation is found. Write a short description of the fact with a title in the table on the form and notify the Quality Assurance department within one business day to identify the investigation.
QA has to evaluate the deviation and assess the potential impact to the product quality, validation and regulatory requirement. All completed deviation investigations are to be approved by QA Manager or delegate. QA Manger has to justify wither the deviation is a Critical, Serious or Standard in nature. For a deviation of either critical or serious nature QA delegate has to arrange a Cross Functional Investigation.
For a standard type deviation a Cross functional Investigation (CFI) is not necessary. Immediate corrective actions have to be completed before the final disposition of a batch. Final batch disposition is the responsibility of Quality Assurance Department.
If a critical or serious deviation leads to a CFI, corrective and preventive actions should be determined and follow up tasks should be assigned to area representatives. Follow up tasks should be completed within 30 business days of the observation of deviation. If a deviation with CFI can not be completed within 30 business days, an interim report should be generated detailing the reason for the delay and the progress so far.
After successful completion of the Follow up tasks Deviation should be completed and attached with the Batch Report /Audit report/ Product complaint report /Safety investigation report as appropriate.
What To Check During The Deviation Assessment:
QA delegate has to conduct a primary Investigation on the deviation reported and evaluate the following information
1. Scope of the deviation – batch affected (both in-process and previously released)
2. Trends relating to (but limited to) similar products, materials, equipment and testing processes, product complaints, previous deviations, annual product reviews, and /or returned goods etc where appropriate.
3. A review of similar causes.
4. Potential quality impact.
5. Regulatory commitment impact.
6. Other batches potentially affected.
7. Market actions (i.e. recall etc)
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How to Find Out If Person is Married Or Not
How to find out if a person is married or not is one question people often find asking themselves. This question arises because there are some things that are not adding up in your relationship. Now you find that you do not trust the answers that your partner is giving you. You do not have to lose sleep worrying about this, there ways in which you can find this out.
Normally what leads you to start suspecting that the person you are with is not being completely honest with you is the way they behave. If someone is acting in a way that’s not normal by reasonable standards then you have every right to be suspicious. If they are taking their calls in secret and meeting at you at fixed times and places then you could be dating a married man. Chances are he has come up with a routine that can accommodate you and his wife without you both ever finding out.
Besides the obvious tell tale signs there are other ways how to find out if a person is married or not. Every marriage that takes place in this country is filed in the marriage records registry. If you can access this registry then you will be at liberty to check if the person is married or not. Marriage records are no longer considered a private or personal issue. They are now called public marriage records and so you can view them too.
So one of the ways you can use how to find out if a person is married or not is to get a copy of this person’s marriage record. You do not have to go anywhere, its something you can do on your computer as these records are available online.
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Defective Products
When a consumer is faced with an issue of purchasing a defective product, there are numerous questions and concerns regarding the proper action to take in order to receive compensation for the defective item. Today, with so many types of products and goods circulating throughout the market, the odds of coming across a faulty product has greatly increased.
Being on the receiving end of a less-than-perfect item may not seem to be a huge worry for most consumers. However, when the product is substandard in the area of safety the route of recourse may involve a complicated,yet necessary legal process to go through in order to rectify the issues surrounding it.
When providing a product or service to the general public, manufacturers must adhere to strict guidelines of safety and efficacy regarding their specific product. In the event that a defective product makes its way into the hands of consumers, consequences such as personal injury to health and well-being may arise.
Certain products have a tendency to appear on the lists of problematic manufactured goods. The leading product types that seem to grace the lists most often involve an aspect of health jeopardization. Whether these specific products become defective during the manufacturing process or not, the dangers to the welfare of the consumers purchasing the goods is staggering.
The products involving health improvement such as medication have been under the gun in the recent years, mostly due to the unfortunate side effects that may be involved. The potential for serious injury and health complications involving such medicinal products is quite high.
Other defective products that have been highly publicized over the past several years that involve safety issues are of the following:
Toys
Automobiles
Medical Equipment
Food Contamination
Cosmetic Enhancements such as breast implants
Surgical supplies
Faced with the aftermath of being injured or harmed in a manner directly caused by defective goods should ideally involve an attorney who is skilled and well-versed in product safety legal situations. The assistance of a lawyer can make the difference between being left to one’s own devices regarding the end result of a bad product, or having the help of a professional who deals with complicated defective product issues on a regular basis.
Consumers have the right to know that the products they are purchasing will be safe and effective. Legal experts are always available to advocate on the behalf of affected consumers.
Beyond First Date To Second Or Third Date
So you made it through the first date with this new man/woman and he/she’s intrigued you. You find him/her attractive, enjoyable to be around, and with the little bit of information you’ve been able to obtain at your first contact, he/she seems to meet some of your personal requirements and needs for a potential lover thus far. So now you want to get your date’s attention, pique his/her interest, but how do you do it?
In dating, it’s not only what you do, but also what you don’t do that makes the difference between getting a second, third or even fourth date and never hearing from the person again. Here are some of the key things to remember as you transition from a first date to a second date to a relationship.
1. Avoid asking for a second date right away
Try always to avoid asking for a date on the date. Preferably suggest “I’d like to see you again,” rather than ask “what are you doing Friday?”. Exchange telephone numbers and leave a memorable last impression. If the first date went great, both of you will spend the next day or two analyzing every word and every gesture to convince yourselves that it really was as good as it was. Women usually expect the man to call first. Some guys are knocked over to meet women confident enough to call them but most men are not. And most not “too eager’ guys will call after three or four days from the first date – realistically may be a week. If you are the one asking for a second date, keep it short and sweet.
2. Be real
When you can not express your true identity, you lose perspective on who you are and how to act in a relationship. People who have been hurt so much or suffer from low self-esteem may attempt to conceal their true identity in order to protect themselves but no matter who you are trying to be, that real you is bound to come out.
3. Do not bring baggage from past relationships
Many singles bring baggage from old relationships into the new relationships. They unconsciously expect the same response from the person they are dating: watching his/her every move, waiting for something to go wrong- and it usually does. The fastest way to make someone run away is to constantly bring up the difficulties in your life caused by others. As a smart single, be aware that if a person has a lot of drama in his or her life, they’ll bring it into yours.
4. Make no assumptions
This rule is timeless. Many singles tend to go on dates with expectations and assumptions but it gets worse, after a few good dates, some singles may begin to get the idea that they are now an item. Do not assume that because you’ve fallen for someone, that person feels the same way about you. Allow the other person to reach that point on his or her own and be aware that he or she may never feel the way you feel. Forcing a relationship that hasn’t yet developed may prove detrimental.
5. Keep all potential romance doors open
This one especially applies to men. If a woman senses nothing but friendly intent from you, boom: into the friend/brother category you go. While it is good to be friendly and “nice”, craving approval may actually undermine your relationships and happiness. In dating, it can be disastrous. My suggestion to you is to make it very clear what your intentions are. That means don’t entertain stories about other guys she’s interested in. Don’t accept to go to the movies when her first choice guy (or girlfriend) is unavailable etc. Make it clear you want to be the man in her life.
6. Lighten up!
Some singles, especially women make the big mistake of attempting to lay down the law too soon. They are so eager to bring up what they will and won’t stand for when dating a man that they forget that it’s just a date and you are simply getting to know the person. Never put too many demands to force the person to make a decision prematurely.
7. Avoid focusing on money
On a first or even second date never ask someone how much they make and if their credit is good, unless you were expecting them to show up with check stubs, bank statements and credit reports in hand. Also avoid spending extravagantly too soon. Keep it at the pace at which you want the relationship to progress. That way, no one feels that the other is trying to get him/her to owe them or is using them.
8. Avoid sex too soon
Introducing sexual intimacy into the relationship too quickly may be the quickest route to the demise of healthy and long-term relationship. Keep those pants on and hormones in check! Unless you want to define your budding relationship solely by sex, jumping into bed too quickly can confuse and blur your assessment process. Sex does change things and you don’t want to sabotage a potentially good thing by being sexual too early before a foundation of trust, rapport, and security has been established between the two of you. So, cool it for now. It will be that much hotter when the time is right!
9. Accept that rejection is a part of life
You may think you’ve met the one but he or she doesn’t return your call after the second time you called, or your e-mails keep bouncing back to you, or you page him/her to no avail. Like acceptance, rejection is just part of life. Keep it in perspective, take responsibility for your actions, learn from it but more than that regroup quickly and get back in the game. The fact that some one isn’t interested doesn’t mean that you don’t have excellent attributes and talents. To not risk rejection is to not live life.
10. When you’re in doubt be patient and persistent
Happiness is likely to be just a date away!
What’s the Best Time to Call Coyotes?
Calling coyotes is always a challenge whether early morning, late evening or in the middle of the night. Because of their highly acute senses of sight, hearing and especially smell there is really no easy time to call coyotes. Hunting this highly skilled predator is rarely easy and can be either extremely exciting or extremely frustrating.
Because coyotes are nocturnal hunters many coyote hunters prefer to call and hunt at night if hunting laws allow night hunting.Although coyotes are more active during the night, night hunting offers its own unique challenges.
There are some advantages to hunting at night:
o Coyotes are on the move in search of prey for their next meal. Because they are hungry and searching for food distress calls can be very effective.
o Coyotes feel more secure at night and may respond to your distress calling with less apprehension in a rush for an easy meal.
o Because coyotes naturally move and hunt at night you aren’t trying to get a coyote to do something that is not natural for them.
o Although scent control is always a concern the wind can be less at night which will help you deal with a coyote’s sense of smell.
Now the disadvantages:
o There is always a safety issue at night if you’re hunting near houses or buildings and is especially a concern if you’re hunting with partners.
o You can’t see as far at night and identifying your target as a coyote can be difficult.
o Because you will probably be carrying extra gear like batteries along with some type of lighting making your movement a little more difficult.
o If your light goes out or your batteries go dead your hunt is over.
o Because of your limited field of view you will need to call the coyotes in much closer because safe shot distances are much less compared to daytime hunting.
Even though coyotes are night time predators they are like many other predators in that they are also active in the early morning and late evening. More often, coyote movement and activity is controlled by hunger and security and not by the time of day or darkness. If a coyote is hungry or feels the need to protect its hunting territory it will respond to either distress calling or coyote vocals at anytime of the day or night.
I believe most coyote hunters prefer hunting either in the early morning hours or at dusk. The coyotes will still respond if they are hungry or to protect their hunting territories without the cover of darkness. I believe the ability to see and shoot farther along with the safety factor make early morning or late evening the best time to call and hunt coyotes.
How Long Does a Social Security Disability Claim Take?
There are many ways to answer this question. A Social Security disability claim may take less than thirty days or over two years to receive a decision. An individual begins the disability process by filing an initial disability claim with the Social Security Administration. Once the initial disability claim is taken, it is sent to the state disability agency for a medical determination. Generally, an individual’s initial disability claim takes anywhere from thirty to ninety days to get a decision. If the individual is awarded disability benefits at this juncture, their disability claim took ninety days or less. Although most initial claims take ninety days or less, some take longer depending upon availability of medical evidence, need for further consultative examinations, etc.
If an individual’s initial disability claim decision is a denial they have two choices: They can file an appeal of the denial or file a new disability claim. NEVER file a new initial claim if your first disability claim is denied! If your initial claim is denied you should begin the Social Security disability appeal process. You are probably thinking why is it best to appeal the decision? Statistics indicate if an individual is denied at the initial level, they are likely to be denied every time they file an initial claim. Initial claims are sent to state disability agencies for processing; these agencies are bound by strict rules and regulations while making medical decisions for Social Security. Therefore, you are likely to be denied if you file another initial claim.
How do you appeal that initial disability denial? You may contact Social Security, and file an appeal known as reconsideration or you can have a Social Security disability representative file your appeal for you. Sometimes it is easier to have a representative handle your appeals, so that you never miss your deadlines. All Social Security appeals have a sixty-five day appeal period, if you miss this deadline, you may have to begin your disability claim again. So how long does a reconsideration appeal take and what are you chances of winning disability benefits at this level? Usually, a reconsideration appeal takes less time to process; most reconsideration appeals take sixty days or less to receive a medical decision. Now just what are your chances of being awarded disability benefits at this level? Statistically, only ten to fifteen percent of all reconsiderations are allowances. Why are the statistics so low? Reconsideration appeals are sent to the same state disability agency for a medical determination that initial disability claims are sent too. The only difference being is that your reconsideration appeal is sent to a different disability examiner for review. Consequently, your reconsideration appeal is likely to be a denial as well.
Don’t get discouraged; the next appeal level is where are most likely to win your disability benefits if your initial claim was denied. If your reconsideration appeal is denied you can appeal the decision by file a request for hearing before an administrative law judge. Administrative law judges have more leeway in making their medical decisions that state agency disability examiners. Thus, statistically there are many more disability benefit awards at this appeal level. The biggest problem with this appeal level is the time it takes to receive an administrative law judge hearing. Currently, many states have large hearings request backlogs, and some disability applicants are waiting months or even years to be scheduled for their hearing.
In conclusion, your Social Security disability claim may take less than thirty days or more than two years. If your condition is not terminal and it does not meet or equal the criteria from the List of Impairments contained in the Social Security disability handbook known as the “blue book”, it may take longer to receive an award of disability benefits than an individual who has a terminal illness.
Lack of Education Contributes to Crime
As more and more low-income families move into neighborhoods that once catered to the middle or upper class, one must be on the lookout for his own personal safety and report any criminal activity going on in their surroundings. Crime is everywhere in these neighborhoods where kids find too much time on their hands after school hours or after the school year lets out.
What also contributes to the crime rate in such places? Is it just the lack of money for low income families? Sometimes, crime can be attributed to the lack of education on the part of the perpetrator or their families.
It is a statistical fact that the crime rate is inversely proportional to the education level of the culprit. Kids who grow up in families that do not stress the importance of getting an education are more likely to be living out on the streets, doing drugs, joining gangs, or ending up in prison.
Sometimes parents who raise such kids were raised in similar conditions when they were youngsters. Nothing has changed. An education should be foremost on parents’ minds when rearing their kids. In fact, an education is the key out of poverty. As the old saying goes, “The way out of the gutter is with a book and not a basketball.”
Kids who do not have a good education in school are more likely to have difficulty with finding jobs, getting into college, or staying out of trouble with the law. Many times they have family issues that are attributed to the loss of a parent at a young age due to a death or an incarceration.
Kids from single-parent homes run that risk of growing up as an “at-risk” child. This is due to the fact that the parent must work to provide food and shelter for the child, and the absence of the other parent fails to provide leadership and guidance for a growing mind. A parent who is incarcerated will definitely not be around to guide the child to getting good grades in school.
What kind of message does an incarcerated parent send to a child? Is it okay to be dumb and stupid and end up in prison like their daddy? Like father, like son. Right? Is it okay to skip school and join a gang like their daddy once did?
The truth of the matter is that kids who drop out of school will face hardship in their lives as they grow older. Lack of education on their part means lack of money to support a family. Lack of money translates into robbing a bank or convenience store.
We hear in the news every day a robbery that occurs in our city or elsewhere. Or perhaps a shooting on the part of the perpetrator that caused an innocent life come to an abrupt halt.
What are kids doing nowadays? How can we prevent our own kids from becoming troubled kids? For one, a parent must be a good role model and stress the importance of a good education. That means the parents must take an active role in their child’s education by monitoring how much television the child is allowed to watch and taking charge of knowing the kinds of friends that his child associates with. Furthermore, this means maintaining communication with his teachers at school and looking over his report card regularly.
A child with poor academic performance may indicate something wrong at school. Perhaps he does not like school due to external influences; i.e. bullying, difficult teachers, taunting by other students, or peer pressure.
It is better to catch the child’s problem as early as possible before it comes to the point that the child is truant from school, or worse, acts out his frustration that is reflected in another Virginia Tech-like massacre.
A child should like his studies and should show interest in his schoolwork. He should be taught that good grades will help him get a good education so that he can get a good paying job and be a productive member of society after he graduates.
Teach your child that involvement in gangs, violence, drugs, and/or extortion will not get him anywhere but prison. Once a person ends up doing life in prison, there IS no second chance. There is no freedom for him. There is no TV, no video games, no music, nothing! Not even a chance to get an education behind bars. If there is school in prison, the education is very limited.
If you are raising a child, question your child as to what is going on in school if he/she displays academic difficulty. Spend some quality time with him/her. Help them with their homework if possible. Remember, you are not just his/her friend, you are their parents. You are the first role model that a child looks toward from infancy. So be a good one and teach him/her what is right by staying in school.
There is a story in Austin, Texas a few years ago. It involved a troubled 17-year-old kid, Manuel Cortez, a high school dropout, who went out with his friends in a stolen car one sunny afternoon, and shot another student, Christopher Briseno, whom he did not even know because Briseno allegedly was teasing the sister of Manuel’s friend. Manuel Cortez is now serving life in prison because he made a stupid decision. Now families of the victim and the perpetrator are suffering two losses from society. All for what? Because Mr. Cortez chose to drop out of school and associate with gangs and/or violence? He chose to give up the possibility of an education so that he can run around gang banging? Or did he not have the proper support and guidance from his parents?
The Top Pre-Workout Supplements!
I have always been a big fan of pre-workout supplements, especially during my college baseball days. They seem to give me the energy I need to get in a great workout, and also seem to be growing in popularity among others as well. Ten months ago I decided that I was going to do a little experiment and test a number of pre-workout supplements to find out which one took the top honors. So far I have used NO-Explode, Black Powder, Jack3d, 1.M.R., and Superpump 250. After using each of these for at least a month, I have formulated accurate reviews, and made my decision on which pre-workout supplement takes the top spot. I’m going to rank each supplement from worst to best, and give my opinion on why I did or did not like it.
(5) MRI’s Black Powder. Sorry Black Powder, but you are the worst pre-workout supplement that I’ve used. For those of you who have tried pre-workout supplements, you judge on whether or not it works by the amount of energy it gives you, the length of time the energy boost lasts, the pumps, and the increase in endurance. Black Powder didn’t give me any of these. Not only didn’t I experience anything positive from this supplement, I also broke out in acne all over my back, chest, and face. As soon as I stopped taking it, the acne disappeared. Because of the lack of everything that Black Powder didn’t provide, it’s ranked #5 out of 5.
(4) Gaspari’s Superpump 250. This is the pre-workout supplement that I’m currently testing out, and so far, it hasn’t lived up to its expectations. I notice an initial increase in energy about 15 minutes after I take it, but it wears off about 30-40 minutes into the workout. I started off taking 2 scoops, but quickly found out that it wasn’t enough, so I increased to 3 scoops, and these aren’t small scoops either. I have to choke it down after using a shaker because it’s too thick to stir. The one thing that really bothers me about Superpump 250 is that it has caused me to experience slight nausea that lasts pretty much the entire workout. With these reasons, and the fact that it doesn’t increase my endurance is why Superpump 250 is ranked #4 on my list.
(3) BSN’s NO-Explode. There is no doubt that this supplement is better than the other two, but still doesn’t take pass the top 2 supplements on my list. After I took NO-Explode, I would experience a rush of energy about 20 minutes afterward, and also became extremely focused. When I started my workout, I was able to get in quite a few extra reps. I also noticed that my recovery time between sets were shorter and that I didn’t get that normal fatigued feeling later on in the workout. In fact, there were many workouts where I felt like I could have just kept going. The only downfall about NO-Explode is that as time went on, I had to take more of it to feel an effect. All in all, NO-Explode is a great product.
(2) USP Labs’ Jack3d. I was debating on whether or not to make this #3 behind NO-Explode, but decided to rank it #2. The one thing I really like about Jack3d is the absolute rush of energy that you experience about 15 minutes after taking it. Not only will you experience a rush in energy, but you also feel a “tingly” feeling all over your face, neck, and hands. This initial boost of energy lasts during most of your workout. You will also experience an increase in endurance and pumps. There are two things that I don’t like about Jack3d: (1) I can’t take it any later than 4 PM in the afternoon or I will never sleep that night. I made the mistake and took it about 6:30 PM one evening, and stared at the ceiling for a good 5 hours before falling asleep. (2) I started to experience a slight nausea after increasing my scoops from 1.5 to 2.5. There were a few workouts that I had to stop because of the nausea, but after I decreased back to 1.5 scoops, the nausea went away. Once you discover your tolerance level and how long it lasts in your system, Jack3d is one of the best pre-workout supplements out there.
(1) BPI Sports’ 1.M.R. 1.M.R. stands for 1 more rep, and it sure does live up to its name! About 15 minutes after you take it, you experience that Jack3d “tingly” feeling and a rush in energy, and that energy lasts during the entire workout. I also experience that focus like I did with NO-Explode, which I really like. Once the workout starts, you are extremely pumped and will notice an increase in reps, endurance, and a decrease in recovery time. Like NO-Explode, I also felt like I could continue working out after I was finished. The only issue with 1.M.R. is the hardcore crash that you experience afterward, but personally, I like that feeling because it makes me feel like I got in an amazing workout, which I did. I have experienced nothing but positive effects from this supplement, and that’s why it’s ranked #1 on my pre-workout supplement list!
I hope this article has helped you make the decision on which pre-workout supplement you should try next. Like I said, I have used each supplement for at least a month so I could formulate an accurate review. I am going to be trying some other pre-workout supplements here in the next few months, and appreciate any recommendations. Who knows, maybe another one will take over the #1 spot!
How to Patina Metal
What is Patina?
Commonly pronounced in the US as pa tee’ne, or puh tee’nuh”.
Most broadly defined as the observed and physical change in a surface over time caused by exposure to oxygen or other environmental elements and compounds. On metal, it is the film of corrosion on the surface caused primarily by the reaction of the metal with oxygen. To put it in perspective, think of an old penny, a rusty pipe, or the Statue of Liberty. However, there is more to it; The natural rate of change depends upon the aggressiveness of the environment. Since the level of pollutants, rainfall, and acidity vary locally, the rate, chemical make-up, and therefore the color and depth of the patina will also vary. Rates of patina build-up and color will change year-to-year, and even seasonally.
Patina is not confined to metal. It can also refer to the change over time in wood or the long-term change in furniture or other items, caused not only by oxidation, but also by repeated cleaning, rubbing and polishing. To summarize, patina is the rich and often lustrous natural toning once only available by waiting months, decades, or eons. Because of the time factor, surfaces with a fine patina often command a premium price.
For metal coating companies, copper, bronze and brass are among the most popular coatings. These have some similarities in the way they naturally patina. Although other elements can be included in the mix, Bronze and Brass are primarily alloys of Copper along with Tin and Zinc, respectively. The natural coating that develops on these copper-based metals can range from brown to green, all in a multitude of shades and hues, depending on time and environment. The desirable green shades (formations of copper carbonate) used to be called Verdigris, but in modern times are usually shortened to Verde or Verdi.
The layer of patina, interestingly, can protect against continuing corrosion and is encouraged to provide a protective barrier against further deterioration. However, this is less likely to be the case in larger cities or areas with higher levels of natural or industrial pollution. In these cases, the green and blue colors are mainly from copper sulfides and are not protective, allowing corrosion to wreck the havoc of deterioration beneath the surface. Areas of harmful or beneficial patina can flake-off allowing the patina process begins anew on that area. This phenomenon can be responsible (along with pigeon poop) for some of the wilder patinas seen in many ancient cities.
While we have been reviewing copper and copper alloys, common rust in all it’s splendid coloring, is a patina effect on iron and iron alloys such a steel. Rust is Iron Oxide formed by the reaction of Iron and oxygen in the presence of water or atmospheric water vapor. We think rust is beautiful!! Unknown to many, even Aluminum forms a surface oxidation (patina) of Aluminum Oxide almost immediately. It often goes unnoticed because it is, most commonly, in a whitish crystalline form. Like the patina on copper and copper alloys, the surface oxidation on Aluminum protects the metal against further deterioration.
We look forward to the way metal ages over time, but waiting years for this weathering process is not always the most practical way to enjoy the coloration changes. Patination is the art of applying coloration to metals. It can be done to add a sense of mood and drama to an object, to enhance and highlight detail or to accelerate the ageing process. The patinator can utilize compounds to hasten the natural process or can add other patina colors such as blue, red, or black. Artists have been using patina since, least the 1800s. Sculptor, Auguste Rodin used patinas on many of his bronze pieces. Likewise American Western Artist Frederick Remington, used patinas on his 22 famous statues depicting Cowboy and Western American life.
Metal coating companies primarily apply patinas to add the interest of shading that would be acquired with some measure of time. While a shiny new penny may a fun thing to receive, it is rather too coppery and of such a monotone color that the detail gets lost in the evenness of the luster. Contrast that new penny with one that has been in circulation for years and you will notice that the high spots have been polished or rubbed shiny from use, and the low relief areas remain darker. Overall, a much nicer presentation that allows you to see greater detail.
Patina may be applied to cleaned metal, either hot or cold. Heat from a torch is often used to speed the oxidation process on sculpture and sheet goods. For cold-spray metal coatings patinators use the cold process, which is safer and keeps fumes to a minimum. Most prefer the ease and consistency of store bought over home-brew, but they are expensive considering the Hazardous Materials shipping cost. At times, patination recipes have been garnered from sources online or from books on the subject. Most chemicals can easily be purchased, but you might have to show ID and sign for some of them due to National Security Concerns. Try your local art store, chemical supply company, school supply house, or even your local drug store.
For sign-makers, patination chemicals reach the signs and plaques via several methods. Patinas can be sprayed, brushed, or rubbed onto the metal-coated piece. As an alternative, size allowing, small pieces are sometimes dipped into a vat of patina chemicals. This colors the entire piece. The high areas are then polished to specifications removing some or all of the patina, thus leaving the relief areas in a very natural patinated state.
Very few of us actually see bronze, brass, or copper right out the mold, and just polished. You might be shocked to see, that like a new penny, it just does not look right without a little oxidation, which is, of course, Patina.
Telling Signs That a Man is in Love With You
As women we know that sometimes it can be difficult to determine whether a man is in love with us. Some men just aren’t as forthcoming about their feelings as others. There are some definite signs that a man is in love and once you understand what they are, it’s much easier to gauge how a man is feeling about you.
One of the most obvious signs that a man is in love with you is that he tells you – over and over. Men who are crazy about a woman want to openly express it. For many men, saying those special words doesn’t come easily. Another thing to watch for that suggests that a man has deep feelings is that he wants to make your life better. He’ll ask what he can do to help you in any way, and he’ll do whatever he can to ensure your life is full and happy.
If you hear from him often when you aren’t together that’s a sign that a man is in love with you. Men want to be close to the women they adore and they will often call or email if you two are apart. This applies to when you are in separate cities, but also if you live just a few minutes apart. If he texts you while you are at work, or emails you just to say hi, he has strong feelings for you.
Men who never ask about your life tend to not feel that deeply for you. If a man is in love with you he’ll have a genuine concern for the things you are experiencing. He’ll ask about mundane everyday things and also will be emotionally invested in your life. If a man is willing to drop everything to listen to your problems or help you with something, he has strong feelings for you.
When a man is head over heels for a woman he’ll go out of his way to do things to surprise her. It might be something as simple as bringing her a fresh bouquet of flowers or cooking her dinner. He takes note of the things she enjoys and uses that information to create unique surprises for her. Another of the often overlooked signs that a man is in love with you is that he’ll share his own feelings with you. He’ll talk about his fears and the things that make him happy. A man who isn’t in love may be afraid to be emotionally vulnerable. When a man loves you, he’ll open up to you.
Nothing feels quite as wonderful as knowing you are loved by a man. Even if he doesn’t always verbally express it, recognizing the signs of his devotion can offer you all the reassurance you need.