A Study on the Microstructure and Corrosion Characteristics of Early Iron Age Bronze Mirrors Excavated from the Korean Peninsula
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...
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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author | Nam Chul Cho Min Kyeong Jang Il Kwon Huh |
author_facet | Nam Chul Cho Min Kyeong Jang Il Kwon Huh |
author_sort | Nam Chul Cho |
collection | DOAJ |
description | 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 (SnO<sub>2</sub>) 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 SnO<sub>2</sub> 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. |
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spelling | doaj.art-48db882cdcb04c7bb80ddcd5c43d4e3d2023-11-21T09:47:48ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-03-01115244110.3390/app11052441A Study on the Microstructure and Corrosion Characteristics of Early Iron Age Bronze Mirrors Excavated from the Korean PeninsulaNam Chul Cho0Min Kyeong Jang1Il Kwon Huh2Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation Sciences, Kongju National University, Gongju-si 32588, KoreaCollections Management Division, Seoul Baekje Museum, Seoul 05540, KoreaConservation Science Division, National Museum of Korea, Seoul 04383, KoreaBronze 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 (SnO<sub>2</sub>) 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 SnO<sub>2</sub> 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/5/2441Early Iron Agebronze mirrorartifact preservationproduction techniquescorrosion |
spellingShingle | Nam Chul Cho Min Kyeong Jang Il Kwon Huh A Study on the Microstructure and Corrosion Characteristics of Early Iron Age Bronze Mirrors Excavated from the Korean Peninsula Applied Sciences Early Iron Age bronze mirror artifact preservation production techniques corrosion |
title | A Study on the Microstructure and Corrosion Characteristics of Early Iron Age Bronze Mirrors Excavated from the Korean Peninsula |
title_full | A Study on the Microstructure and Corrosion Characteristics of Early Iron Age Bronze Mirrors Excavated from the Korean Peninsula |
title_fullStr | A Study on the Microstructure and Corrosion Characteristics of Early Iron Age Bronze Mirrors Excavated from the Korean Peninsula |
title_full_unstemmed | A Study on the Microstructure and Corrosion Characteristics of Early Iron Age Bronze Mirrors Excavated from the Korean Peninsula |
title_short | A Study on the Microstructure and Corrosion Characteristics of Early Iron Age Bronze Mirrors Excavated from the Korean Peninsula |
title_sort | study on the microstructure and corrosion characteristics of early iron age bronze mirrors excavated from the korean peninsula |
topic | Early Iron Age bronze mirror artifact preservation production techniques corrosion |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/5/2441 |
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