Antonio Domenech-Carb6

Maria Teresa Domenech-Carb6

Virginia Costa

Electrochemical Methods
in Archaeometry,
Conservation and Restoration

~ Springer
Contents

1 Applieation of Instrumental Methods in the Analysis of Historie,

Artistie and Arehaeological Objeets .
1.1 Importance of Scientific Examination for Archaeometry,
Conservalion and Restoration 1
1.2 Information Provided by lhe Analytical Research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2.1 Analytical Information Oblained from the Objecl 3
1.2.2 Analytical Information Oblained from the Environment. . . . 6
1.2.3 Analytical Information Oblained
from the Conservation Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.3 Requirements of Analytical Methodology Applied
to Archaeometric and Conservation Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3.1 Sampling Strategy 8
1.3.2 Preparation of Sampies 10
1.3.3 Measurcment of Analytical Parameters , 11
1.3.4 Data Processing 12
1.4 An Overview on Analytical Melhods Applied
in Archaeometry and Conservation of Cultural Goods . . . . . . . . . . .. 12
1.4.1 Examination Based on Recording Images:
Thc Holistic Approach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13
1.4.2 Analytical Methods: The Reductionist Approach. . . . . . . . .. 15
1.4.3 Point analysis providing chemical composition of layers
and bulk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16
1.4.4 Point analysis providing mo1ecular and crystalline struclure . 19
1.4.5 Poinl Analysis Providing Morphology, Texture
and Strata Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23
1.4.6 Microbeam Analysis Providing Microdomain, Surface
Structure, and Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25
1.4.7 Dating Methods 28
1.5 Final Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31

2 Identification of Species by Electrochemical Methods 33

2.1 Introduclion....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33
2.2 Conventional Voltammetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33

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viii Contents

2.3 Voltammetry of Microparticles 40

2.4 Identification of Species Involving Electrochemically Depositable
Metals 44
2.5 Identification of Metallic Species 48
2.6 Identification of Species Using Reductive/Oxidative Dissolution
Process , " " 49
2.7 Identification of Species Via Solid-State Transfonnations . . . . . . . .. 51
2.8 Analytical Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 55

3 Resolution of Multicomponent Systems and Speciation 65

3.1 Introduction... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 65
3.2 Analysis of Single Multicomponent Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 66
3.3 Criteria for Pattern Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 68
3.4 Bi-Parametric Data Analysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 70
3.5 Multivariate Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84
3.6 Speciation................................................. 87

4 Quantitative Methods 95
4.1 Quantitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 95
4.2 Phase Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 96
4.3 Relative Quantitation 97
4.4 Absolute Quantitation, Standard Addition Method 106
4.5 H-Point Standard Addition Methods , 110

5 Electrochemical Basis of Corrosion of Cultural Objects 123

5.1 A Search tor Equilibrium 123
5.2 Degradation Under Particular Conditions 125
5.2.1 Archaeological Artifacts 125
5.2.2 Monuments 129
5.2.3 Historic Artifacts 131
5.3 Some Usefu1 Corrosion 133

6 Electrochemistry in Treatment and Conservation of Metal Artifacts . 135

6.1 E1ectrochemical Treatment of Meta1 Artifacts 135
6.1.1 Historica1 Evolution 135
6.1.2 C1eaning 135
6.1.3 Stabi1ization 136
6.1.4 Conso1idation 137
6.1.5 State of the Art 137
6.2 Evaluation of Museum Environment 139

Bibliography 141

About the Editor 157

About the Authors 159

Index 161