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Investigation and Replication of the Surface Microstructure of Early Chinese Black Bronzemirrors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Michelle Taube ,
W. Thomas Chase ,
Alison J. Davenport  and
A. Peter Jardine
Michelle Taube
Affiliation:
University at Stony Brook, Department of Materials Science, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2275 Brookhaven National Laboratory, Materials Science Division, Building 480, P. 0. Box 5000, Upton, NY 11973-5000
W. Thomas Chase
Affiliation:
Freer Gallery of Art, Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560
Alison J. Davenport
Affiliation:
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Materials Science Division, Building 480, P. 0. Box 5000, Upton, NY 11973-5000
A. Peter Jardine
Affiliation:
University at Stony Brook, Department of Materials Science, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2275
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Abstract

Many ancient Chinese bronze mirrors have survived with their original surface decorationsintact, particularly those with “glassy” black surface coatings. The microstructures and compositions of cross-sectional samples from ancient mirrors have been analyzed with optical and electron microscopy and synchrotron x-ray fluorescence. The core has a two-phase metal structure while the surface shows evidence of selective dissolution of copper from the α (Curich) phase. The ci phase regions are replaced pseudomorphically by a mineral product with the δ (Sn-rich) phase remaining metallic. A fundamental study of the electrochemistry of the copper-tin system has given information on theconditions under which selective dissolution of copper takes place. Electrochemical polarization has been used to drive the copper dealloying process in cast high-tin bronze. Theresulting microstructure is similar to the dealloyed microstructure observed in the ancient samples.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 352: Symposium – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology IV , 1995 , 215
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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References

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