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Application

Liquid Metal
& Metallic Coatings

Real metal finishes on any surface. Copper warmth, bronze depth, brass glow, applied to wood, stone, plaster, foam or steel. Surfaces that look, feel and age like solid metal.

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48hr
UK Dispatch
ISO
9001 & 14001 Certified
Top 8%
EcoVadis Rating
20+
Countries Supplied
About This Application

Ronald Britton supplies metal powders for liquid metal coatings, cold casting and decorative metallic finishes. We stock copper, bronze, brass, aluminium and iron powders in the fine particle sizes required for coating applications, typically -200 to -325 mesh. Liquid metal coatings contain 90–95% real metal powder suspended in a binding agent, creating surfaces that look, feel and age like solid metal on any substrate including wood, MDF, plaster, concrete, foam and plastic. Stock grades ship from our Rochdale warehouse within 48 hours, with full ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, EcoVadis top 8% for sustainability (placing us in the top 8% of all assessed companies worldwide) and batch-level traceability.

Bronze masquerade mask in an award laurel wreathScreen CredentialsTrusted on BAFTA‑winning productionsFinishes on sets, props & hero pieces across award‑winning UK film & television.
Where It’s Used

Applications for
Liquid Metal Finishes

From five-star hotel lobbies to gallery sculpture and film props, metal powder coatings turn everyday materials into something that looks and feels like the real thing.

Architecture

Feature Walls &
Architectural Surfaces

CopperBronzeBrass
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Commercial

Signage &
Branding

BrassBronze
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Furniture

Furniture &
Bespoke Joinery

BrassCopper
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Architecture

Doors, Elevators &
Architectural Hardware

CopperBrassBronze
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Film & Props

Film, Television
& Prop Making

BronzeIron
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Art & Sculpture

Sculpture &
Public Art

BronzeCopperVerdigris
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Heritage

Restoration &
Heritage Conservation

BronzeCopperBrass
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Effect & Finish

Decorative Patina
& Aged Effects

VerdigrisRustAged
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Makers & Artisans

Cold Casting
& Resin Art

BronzeCopperAluminiumBrass
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We do one thing
/
Metal powder
/
We do it properly
Available Finishes

Six Signature Metals,
Infinite Combinations

Each finish is formulated from real metal powders and can be specified on its own or paired with a companion for contrast and depth. Hover a dot to see the pairing name.

Copper
Satin · 35%
Warm red-orange with rosy undertones, the warmest, most inviting of the metals.
Pairs Beautifully With
Bronze
Low Sheen · 15%
Deep golden-brown with amber depth, the classic choice for sculpture and architectural detail.
Pairs Beautifully With
Brass
Semi-Gloss · 45%
Bright gold with a clean, polished glow, bold, contemporary, unmistakably gilded.
Pairs Beautifully With
Aluminium
Soft Sheen · 25%
Cool silver with a modern, industrial edge, a clean counterpoint to the warm metals.
Pairs Beautifully With
Iron
Matte · 8%
Dark gunmetal that develops authentic rust, moody, raw, structural.
Pairs Beautifully With
Verdigris Patina
Dead Matte · 5%
The chalky cyan-green that copper earns over decades, weathered, mineral, alive.
Pairs Beautifully With
In the Wild

What Our Powders
Make Possible

Where our powders are used: the kinds of finishes coaters, artists, architects and makers create with Ronald Britton metal powders.

Copper, Patinated

Boutique Hotel Lobby

Feature wall with accelerated verdigris patina on MDF.

Bronze, Burnished

Restaurant Bar Top

Cold-cast bronze bar surface, hand-burnished to a warm lustre.

Brass, Polished

Retail Signage

Dimensional brass-finish lettering on a stone facade.

Iron & Bronze, Aged

Film & Television Set Build

Hero props and set dressing for UK film and television.

Copper, Brushed

Elevator Surround

Brushed copper finish on composite panel for a hotel renovation.

Bronze, Cold-Cast

Gallery Sculpture

Cold-cast figurative sculpture with a bronze surface.

Copper, Verdigris

Heritage Restoration

Accelerated verdigris patina on restored decorative panels.

Bronze, Restored

Theatre Interior Restoration

Ornamental metalwork restored with bronze powder finishes.

Iron, Antiqued

Costume Armour

Plate armour prop for theatre. Foam core, iron powder finish.

Bronze, Raw

Bespoke Door Handles

Cold-cast bronze hardware, handmade in small batches.

Typical uses of Ronald Britton metal powders by independent coaters, fabricators and artists. Imagery is representative of finish type.

Frequently Asked Questions

Liquid Metal Questions & Answers

What is liquid metal coating?

Liquid metal coating is a sprayable or brushable finish made from real metal powder (typically 90–95% metal) suspended in a binding agent. When applied to any substrate, wood, MDF, plaster, foam, plastic, concrete, the surface looks, feels and ages like solid metal. It can be polished, brushed, patinated or left raw. Unlike metallic paint, liquid metal coatings contain actual metal particles and develop genuine patina over time.

What mesh size metal powder do I need for a sprayed liquid metal finish?

Use fine powder from -200 to -325 mesh (under 75 µm to under 45 µm). -325 mesh gives the smoothest sprayed finish and the finest polish. Coarser powder settles in the binder and leaves a rougher surface. Ronald Britton supplies copper, bronze, brass, aluminium and iron powders in these grades.

What metal powders are used in liquid metal coatings?

The most common metal powders are copper (warm red-orange tones), bronze (rich golden-brown), brass (bright gold), aluminium (cool silver) and iron (dark gunmetal, can be rusted). Ronald Britton supplies all of these in the fine particle sizes required for coating applications, typically -200 to -325 mesh.

What is cold casting with metal powder?

Cold casting is the process of mixing metal powder into a polyurethane or epoxy resin to create objects that look and feel like solid metal, without the need for a foundry or high-temperature casting. The metal powder is either brushed into a mould as a surface layer or mixed throughout the resin. Once cured, the surface is burnished to reveal the metal lustre. Cold casting is widely used for sculpture, prop making, architectural panels and decorative objects.

Can liquid metal coatings develop real patina?

Yes. Because the coatings contain real metal particles, copper-based finishes will develop genuine verdigris (green patina) over time when exposed to moisture and air, just like solid copper. This process can also be accelerated using patination chemicals to achieve aged copper, oxidised bronze or rusted iron effects on demand. The patina is real, not painted on.

What surfaces can liquid metal be applied to?

Liquid metal coatings can be applied to virtually any rigid surface including wood, MDF, plaster, concrete, glass, plastic, foam, fibreglass and existing metalwork. This makes it possible to create the appearance of solid metal on feature walls, furniture, signage, sculpture, doors, columns and architectural elements, at a fraction of the weight and cost of solid metal.

Can I order small quantities for testing?

Yes. Orders start from 1 kg, which is ideal for testing finishes, trialling new coating formulations or producing sample pieces. Stock items are dispatched within 48 hours. Large orders and made to order grades are given a confirmed date.

Ready to Create
Something Beautiful?

Tell us the metal, the finish and the quantity. Whether it's 1 kg or full production supply, we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

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