In this study, metal disks with different chemical composition (two Ag-based alloys and three Cu-based alloys) were buried in the soil of coastal archaeological sites for a period of 15 years. The aim was to naturally induce the growth of corrosion patinas to obtain a deeper insight into the role of alloying elements in the formation of the patinas and into the degradation mechanisms occurring in the very early stages of burial. To reach the aim, the morphological, compositional and structural features of the patinas grown over 15 years were extensively characterized by optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Results showed that the Cu amount in Ag-based alloys strongly affected the final appearance, as well as the composition and structure of the patinas. Corrosion mechanisms typical of archaeological finds, such as the selective dissolution of Cu, Pb and Zn and internal oxidation of Sn, occurred in the Cu-based alloys, even if areas enriched in Zn and Pb compounds were also detected and attributed to an early stage of degradation. In addition, some unusual and rare compounds were detected in the patinas developed on the Cu-based disks.

Early stages of metal corrosion in coastal archaeological sites. Effects of chemical composition in silver and copper alloys / Boccaccini, Francesca; Riccucci, Cristina; Messina, Elena; Pascucci, Marianna; Bosi, Ferdinando; Aldega, Luca; Ciccola, Alessandro; Postorino, Paolo; Favero, Gabriele; Ingo, Gabriel Maria; Di Carlo, Gabriella. - In: MATERIALS. - ISSN 1996-1944. - 17:2(2024), pp. 1-17. [10.3390/ma17020442]

Early stages of metal corrosion in coastal archaeological sites. Effects of chemical composition in silver and copper alloys

Boccaccini, Francesca
;
Bosi, Ferdinando;Aldega, Luca;Ciccola, Alessandro;Postorino, Paolo;Favero, Gabriele;
2024

Abstract

In this study, metal disks with different chemical composition (two Ag-based alloys and three Cu-based alloys) were buried in the soil of coastal archaeological sites for a period of 15 years. The aim was to naturally induce the growth of corrosion patinas to obtain a deeper insight into the role of alloying elements in the formation of the patinas and into the degradation mechanisms occurring in the very early stages of burial. To reach the aim, the morphological, compositional and structural features of the patinas grown over 15 years were extensively characterized by optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Results showed that the Cu amount in Ag-based alloys strongly affected the final appearance, as well as the composition and structure of the patinas. Corrosion mechanisms typical of archaeological finds, such as the selective dissolution of Cu, Pb and Zn and internal oxidation of Sn, occurred in the Cu-based alloys, even if areas enriched in Zn and Pb compounds were also detected and attributed to an early stage of degradation. In addition, some unusual and rare compounds were detected in the patinas developed on the Cu-based disks.
2024
alloying elements; burial treatment; copper alloys; corrosion products; silver alloys
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Early stages of metal corrosion in coastal archaeological sites. Effects of chemical composition in silver and copper alloys / Boccaccini, Francesca; Riccucci, Cristina; Messina, Elena; Pascucci, Marianna; Bosi, Ferdinando; Aldega, Luca; Ciccola, Alessandro; Postorino, Paolo; Favero, Gabriele; Ingo, Gabriel Maria; Di Carlo, Gabriella. - In: MATERIALS. - ISSN 1996-1944. - 17:2(2024), pp. 1-17. [10.3390/ma17020442]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Boccaccini_Early-stages_2024.pdf

accesso aperto

Note: Articolo rivista
Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 5.81 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
5.81 MB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1700530
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 0
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 0
social impact