Characterisation of Archaeological High-tin Bronze Corrosion Structures

Saraiva, Ana Sofia Silva; Figueiredo, Elin; Águas, Hugo; Silva, Rui J.C.

doi:10.1080/00393630.2020.1857523

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The lead-rich globules could be formed during solidification of the cast: lead was segregated due to its limited solubility in copper and solidified forming the grains revealed by SEM-EDS. 28,31,32 The investigated part of A2 surface appears more homogeneous but also here little spots of higher lead density are recognized. Simultaneous Si and O high concentrations in some parts of the surface can be directly attributed to silica or silicates incorporated into the arrowhead's external layer (see Supporting Information).…”

Section: Elemental Analysismentioning

confidence: 83%

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Non‐invasive surface analysis of ancient bronze arrowheads with scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray powder diffractometry

Duda

Oszajca

Łasocha

2022

Surface & Interface Analysis

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In this research, surfaces of eight ancient metal arrowheads were investigated regarding chemical composition, homogeneity, and products of corrosion. To perform that, two nondestructive techniques were applied: Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS), and X‐ray powder diffractometry (XRPD). Importantly, both methods did not require sampling, cutting, nor significant cleaning of the historical artifacts, which made the measurements not only nondestructive but noninvasive too. SEM‐EDS measurements provided information on the morphology and elemental composition of the surfaces of the studied objects as well as the distribution of chemical elements on the surfaces and supported crystalline phase analysis. It was revealed that the arrowheads were cast of tin bronze, but some of them contained high amounts of lead and admixtures of antimony and arsenic while copper and tin oxides and lead carbonates were found as the major corrosion products. In some cases, distribution of elements in the surface exhibited serious nonhomogeneity, probably resulting from limited solubility of the casting metals and degradation processes. Based on the obtained results, authenticity and declared provenience of the arrowheads were assessed in reference to the characteristics of similar objects described in literature.

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Section: Elemental Analysismentioning

confidence: 83%

“…The grainy structure is also clearly seen in the electron image. The lead‐rich globules could be formed during solidification of the cast: lead was segregated due to its limited solubility in copper and solidified forming the grains revealed by SEM‐EDS 28,31,32 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non‐invasive surface analysis of ancient bronze arrowheads with scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray powder diffractometry

Duda

Oszajca

Łasocha

2022

Surface & Interface Analysis

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“…Previous studies of the atmospheric alteration of bell bronze had shown a microinfiltrative property of the patina and the development of preferential α/δ corrosion of the underlying alloy [ 10 , 11 ]. They were performed on samples corroded over a long term.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among the most famous bell bronzes, one can mention Big Ben in the United Kingdom (1858), the bell of the Yongle regime in Pekin (1420) but also the bells of “Notre Dame de Paris” in France whose replacement in 2013 was widely publicized. The corrosion of bell bronzes has been poorly studied, with the exception of [ 10 , 11 ] that show that the long-term corrosion of the bell is governed by micro-infiltrating net-works of environmental fluids through brittle corrosion products that lead to a different α/δ corrosion behavior: a multilayer corrosion of the α-phase, while the corroded δ-phase is enriched in tin oxide. However, a question arises: can the atmospheric alteration also change the bronze vibration modes?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Atmospheric Corrosion Alter the Sound Quality of the Bronze Used for Manufacturing Bells?

Bentahar,

Petitmangin,

Blanc

et al. 2023

Materials

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Bells are made of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Art objects and musical instruments belong to tangible and intangible heritage. The effect of atmospheric alteration on their sound is not well documented. To address this question, alteration cycles of bronze specimens are performed in a chamber reproducing a realistic polluted coastal atmosphere. The corrosion layers are characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry. The buried interface of the film (alloy-layer interface) is formed by a thin, adherent and micro-cracked layer, mainly composed of sulfates, copper oxide and chloride, on top of tin corrosion products. Near the atmosphere-film interface, less adherent irregular clusters of soot, calcite, gypsum and halite developed. Through these observations, an alteration scenario is proposed. To correlate the bronze corrosion effect on the bell sound, linear and nonlinear resonance experiments are performed on the corroded bronze specimens, where resonance parameters are monitored as a function of increasing driving force using a shaker. Results show that the corrosion effect on the acoustic properties can be monitored through the evolution of the acoustic nonlinear parameters (damping and resonance). These well-calibrated original experiments confirm the effect of corrosion on the acoustic properties of bronze.

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“…Since 2000, the largest and heaviest ringing bell in the world has been the Bell of Good Luck at the Foquan Temple in Pingdingshan city, China, whose mass is 116 × 10 3 kg [126,127]. The shape of bells has changed over the centuries [128][129][130]; nevertheless, their construction was designed to have suitable strength and divine sound using properly selected parameters, i.e., wall thickness, bell diameter, and the composition of the alloy, which are decisive concerning the sound tone and timbre [131][132][133]. The optimal mechanical strength is easy to achieve by increasing the bell wall thickness, but the relationship between the shape of the bell and its sound is hard to grasp, especially because the bell sound consists of a series of merged tones and overtones, which give the so-called strike tone [134,135].…”

Section: Lwc For Bellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technological Insights into the Evolution of Bronze Bell Metal Casting on the Korean Peninsula

Won

Jung

Won

et al. 2022

Metals

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Bronze cast bells have been designed and developed for hundreds of years, with the worldwide spread of several faiths and religions such as Buddhism, Catholicism, and Protestantism. The exceptional ringtones of bronze bell metals have scientific healing and cultural importance. In this review article, we highlight the evolution of bronze bell metal over the decades, its composition, and the complex fabrication technologies used to date. Furthermore, we overview ancient and modern casting alloy technology, especially bronze bell castings in Asia. The bell shape, materials, and alloy casting technology have undergone dramatic change over the years. For comparison, we include different bronze cast bells and their characteristics produced from the Middle Ages to the present times. Based on the data obtained from the bell casting technology surrounding the Korean Peninsula, the major trends in the evolution of bronze bell castings and long-standing traditions of mold materials and alloys are described. In the present review, the effects of different elements on bell materials are qualitatively overviewed, with an assessment of the material and casting properties, service life, and bell sound. We also highlight the challenges of conventional bronze casting and possible solutions for future investment castings and rapid prototyping of bronze bells.

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Characterisation of Archaeological High-tin Bronze Corrosion Structures

Cited by 12 publications

References 37 publications

Non‐invasive surface analysis of ancient bronze arrowheads with scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray powder diffractometry

Non‐invasive surface analysis of ancient bronze arrowheads with scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray powder diffractometry

Does Atmospheric Corrosion Alter the Sound Quality of the Bronze Used for Manufacturing Bells?

Technological Insights into the Evolution of Bronze Bell Metal Casting on the Korean Peninsula

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