Bronze mirrors, considered important grave goods, were widely used before glass mirrors in ancient times. Most excavated bronze artifacts are covered with corrosive materials and lose their original colors. More importantly, identifying corrosion characteristics and the manufacturing techniques used for these artifacts are essential for proper artifact preservation. In this study, Early Iron Age bronze mirrors excavated from the Korean Peninsula were examined to determine their microstructures, corrosion characteristics, and production techniques using various analytical methods, such as Micro-Raman spectroscopy and field emission electron probe microanalysis. As a result, sulfides containing iron suggested chalcopyrite use during production or that the sulfides originated from copper, iron, and sulfur residual matte. The analysis also detected corrosion layers with high tin oxide (SnO2) levels and selective corrosion in the α+δ eutectoid phase on the artifact’s surface. In the corrosive layer, cuprite, malachite, and cassiterite corrosion products were detected, and nanocrystalline SnO2 was identified as a characteristic of long-term soil erosion. Identifying these artifacts’ corrosion characteristics and manufacturing techniques is essential and can greatly contribute to proper artifact preservation.
‘Eve 58-1’, the subject of this study is a statue made of plaster and its structural stability was evaluated by utilizing the CAE program in order to prevent the risk of damage arising from impact and vibration that are generated during the packaging and transportation process given its material characteristics. CAE is an abbreviation for Computer Applied Engineering for realization by predicting changes at the time of application of virtual physical energy. It is applied by reflecting the physical property conditions and each boundary condition of plaster, and the digital images of the internal and external structure of the work were acquired through 3D scanning and CT analysis for interpretation by executing finite element modeling. When acceleration is applied to the work in the direction of its own weight, the left-right side and the front-rear side, it was possible to confirm a maximum displacement value of 15.24 mm in the head section of the front-rear side direction that has been tilted by approximately 27° from the Y-axis and the largest stress value of 12.46 MPa was at the left ankle section. The corresponding results confirmed that the left ankle section is the most vulnerable area and the section for which precautions need to be exercised and supplemented at the time of transporting the work by means of objective values.
Laser cleaning have been found to be a useful cleaning tool to remove contaminants without inducing damage to the substrate and making secondary pollutant. In this study, the effect of Nd:YAG laser cleaning system, emitting at 1064 nm and 532 nm, on acrylic resin applied onto copper coupons and pieces of bronze was investigated. The samples after laser cleaning tests were examined using microscopy, FT-IR, SEM-EDS. As a result, the acrylic resin could be removed from most of the samples at low laser energy density. Laser wavelength 532 nm was more effective than 1064 nm because of using lower laser energy density, which could reduce heat damage to substrates. Although the acrylic resin was easily removed, it revealed melted surfaces and removed bronze patina which must remain. The problems should be solved by future studies using different laser system or laser wavelengths.
This study, by selecting 3 kinds(Polish T, H, C) of metal polish being frequently used for silver archival objects treatment at present, a polish having excellent conservative property that minimizes damage of silver surface while effectively removing its yellow discolored layer by each using tool was intended to be discovered by comparing performance of tarnish inhibitor, corrosion inhibitor contained in each polish. As a result of analysis, it was confirmed that specimen that was cleaned with cotton swab and lint-free wipe by using Polish C provides not only uniformed surface expression and minimum damage but also removal function of corrosion layer. In addition, even though tarnish inhibition film should be formed after polish treatment, discolored phenomenon is unable to be prevented but among those polishes, Polish C was represented to be most stable against UV and yellowing and it showed relatively better features than that of Polish H and T in terms of hydrophobic, dispersive property. Through this, it is confirmed that Polish C would show the most excellent performance among polishes being used for conserving silver archival objects.
In the 6<sup>th</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> centuries, 5 iron artifacts excavated form the Baekje Stone Tomb in Guryong-ri site, Ungcheon, Boryeong, were studied. The sample were metal microscopic observation, SEM-EDS analysis and Raman micro-spectroscopy analysis were conducted to understand the metallurgical characteristics. The microstructure observation showed the presence of ferrite and pearlite throughout, and differences in carbon content existed depending on the direction. Non-metallic inclusions were in the form of long lines, and most of them were wüstite, fayalite. It is indicated that the artifacts were forge welded using hypoeutectoid steel, with signs of carburizing and decarburizing processes. Some crystals with high P2<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, TiO<sub>2</sub>, CaO content were identified as sarcopside, ulvöspinel, and perovskite, respectively, through Raman spectroscopy. A comparison of the results with previous studies on the sites of Bujang-ri site in Seosan and Bongseon-ri site in Seocheon, which are adjacent sites in the coastal area, revealed that, while heat treatment technology was available, the artifacts were not heat-treated considering the purpose for use for these artifacts. The chemical composition of the non-metallic inclusions P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, TiO<sub>2</sub>, CaO were plotted in proportions to SiO<sub>2</sub> and compared with adjacent sites. Considering that the P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>/SiO<sub>2</sub> ratio was widely distributed, the refining technology was not uniform. In addition, the TiO<sub>2</sub>/SiO<sub>2</sub> ratio was found to be higher than that of other sites, meaning that a titanium-containing ore was used to manufacture the artifacts, unlike in surrounding sites, but it is not detected in all artifacts, so it may have been affected by various factors such as furnace walls in addition to raw materials. Although slag formers were used, considering the CaO/SiO<sub>2</sub> ratio and the (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/SiO<sub>2</sub>)/(CaO/SiO<sub>2</sub>) ratio, which appear to be similar to the surrounding sites, but it is possible that CaO containing raw ore was used because it is also affected by the components of raw ore. As a result of the study, it is highly likely that ore different from that of the surrounding sites was used for production, but a more comprehensive comparative study with the surrounding sites is needed in the future.
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