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Investigation of the Altered Layer on Ancient Chinese Bronze Mirrors and Model High-Tin Bronzes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Michelle Taube ,
Alexander H. King  and
W. Thomas Chase III
Michelle Taube
Affiliation:
State University of New York at Stony Brook, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stony Brook, NY 11794–2275 Brookhaven National Laboratory, Department of Applied Science, Upton, NY 11973–5000
Alexander H. King
Affiliation:
State University of New York at Stony Brook, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stony Brook, NY 11794–2275
W. Thomas Chase III
Affiliation:
Freer Gallery of Art, Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560
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Abstract

Many ancient Chinese bronze mirrors have a smooth patina. An ingress of corrosion to a depth of approximately 100 μm is found beneath the patina. The corrosion selectively replaces the Cu-rich α phase leaving the Sn-rich σ phase intact. Previous work by x-ray diffraction has shown that the a-phase replacement product is poorly crystallized or nanocrystalline SnO2. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to further characterize the replacement product in both ancient mirror and replication samples. Nanocrystalline SnO, in the form of small spheroids has been found. Remnants of an original alloy phase appear to be interspersed with the tin oxide.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 462: Symposium DD – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology V , 1996 , 19
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

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