3D imaging of micro-segregation and corrosion behavior of alloying elements in archaeological artefacts from Motya (Sicily, Italy)

Multiscale X-ray Microscopy, SEM, HR-FESEM- EDS and EMPA techniques have been used to explore the corrosion behavior of copper-based artefacts from the Phoenician-Punic site of Motya (Sicily, Italy). The stress corrosion, due to forging conditions, and dealloying have been investigated using 3D-imaging. At sub-micro-scale the results highlighted grain boundaries micro-segregations induced by As and the occurrence of copper-iron arsenate layers in a Cu-nail. Binary and ternary alloys revealed a marked enrichment of Sn content and a selective corrosion of Cu as determined by the calculation of dissolution factors.