Investigation of silver metal clays using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy

Precious metal clay is a popular material with jewellery makers. Its plasticity permits the creation of intricate designs practically indistinguishable from pieces produced by ordinary metalsmithing techniques. Metal clays may not have entered museum collections yet but will inevitably do so as sing...

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Main Author: Carvalho, LDC
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi 2018
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author Carvalho, LDC
author_facet Carvalho, LDC
author_sort Carvalho, LDC
collection OXFORD
description Precious metal clay is a popular material with jewellery makers. Its plasticity permits the creation of intricate designs practically indistinguishable from pieces produced by ordinary metalsmithing techniques. Metal clays may not have entered museum collections yet but will inevitably do so as single or composite objects - but should they be conserved like ordinary metal objects? This study examines the morphology and inorganic composition of two brands of silver metal clay using Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Fired silver clay tablets were also submitted to Oddy testing in an attempt to determine the corrosive effect of any remaining organic binder. The results confirm that both brands of metal clay are composed of silver and they can be displayed and stored alongside other metal objects. However conservation treatments must be designed to take into account their porosity.
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spelling oxford-uuid:472080bc-a273-47b4-94f0-450730b1bd942022-03-26T15:18:11ZInvestigation of silver metal clays using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:472080bc-a273-47b4-94f0-450730b1bd94EnglishSymplectic ElementsAlexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi2018Carvalho, LDCPrecious metal clay is a popular material with jewellery makers. Its plasticity permits the creation of intricate designs practically indistinguishable from pieces produced by ordinary metalsmithing techniques. Metal clays may not have entered museum collections yet but will inevitably do so as single or composite objects - but should they be conserved like ordinary metal objects? This study examines the morphology and inorganic composition of two brands of silver metal clay using Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Fired silver clay tablets were also submitted to Oddy testing in an attempt to determine the corrosive effect of any remaining organic binder. The results confirm that both brands of metal clay are composed of silver and they can be displayed and stored alongside other metal objects. However conservation treatments must be designed to take into account their porosity.
spellingShingle Carvalho, LDC
Investigation of silver metal clays using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy
title Investigation of silver metal clays using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy
title_full Investigation of silver metal clays using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy
title_fullStr Investigation of silver metal clays using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of silver metal clays using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy
title_short Investigation of silver metal clays using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy
title_sort investigation of silver metal clays using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy
work_keys_str_mv AT carvalholdc investigationofsilvermetalclaysusingscanningelectronmicroscopywithenergydispersivespectroscopy