Degradation of archaeological horn silver artefacts in burials

Geraldine Marchand · Élodie Guilminot · Stéphane Lemoine · Loretta Rossetti · Michelle Vieau · Nicolas Stéphant

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Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis Corrosion Behavior and Inhibition Metallurgy and Cultural Artifacts

Abstract

Abstract Background Archaeological silver objects from burial sites are of a grey-lavender aspect. The formation of AgCl leads to an increase in the volume of the objects, which may undergo a complete transformation into corrosion products. This degradation process has been little studied to date. In this paper, eight horn silver objects were studied by SEM and XRD. Results Analyses showed a corrosion system composed of bi-layers: a compact inner layer and a porous outer layer. Corrosion products were mainly silver chlorides (AgCl), chlorargyrite. Some objects displayed copper inclusions both in the metallic core and in the inner layer. Highly mineralized objects contained other oxygen-rich phases (with Si, Ca) in the inner layer. Soil markers were detected in the outer layer. Conclusion Based on these results, we put forward a corrosion mechanism for horn silver objects. Silver chloride is formed by the disappearance of the initial silver oxide layer. This AgCl layer is not protective and supports ion transport. Thus an outer layer of silver chloride, incorporating soil markers, is formed.

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References

1973The Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art 1987Conservation of Marine Archaeological Objects 1987Corrosion of metals 1989Conservation of marine archaeological objects 2004Metals and Corrosion: A Handbook for the Conservation Professional 2001The deterioration of silver alloys and some aspects of their conservation 1974The Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art: Treatment, Repair and Restoration 2006Combined use of SEM-EDS, OM and XRD for the characterization of corrosion products grown on silver roman coins

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