Intergranular Failure of Roman Silver Artefacts

Jaroslava Vaníčková; Jiří Děd; P. Bartuška; Pavel Lejček

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.567-568.213

Paper Titles

Structure and Properties of PM Nano-Crystalline Al-Cr based Alloys
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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Electrodeposited Nickel and its Particle-Reinforced Nanocomposite
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Calculations of Equilibrium Critical Thickness for Non-Polar Wurtzite InGaN/GaN Systems
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Intergranular Failure of Roman Silver Artefacts
p.213

Structure and Properties of Magnesium-Based Hydrogen Storage Alloys
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Transverse Cracking of Layered Structures: Evaluation of Fatigue Crack Propagation
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Estimation of the Crack Propagation Direction of a Crack Touching the Interface between Two Elastic Materials
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The Influence of Thermally Sprayed Coatings Microstructure on their Mechanical and Tribological Characteristics
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HomeMaterials Science ForumMaterials Science Forum Vols. 567-568Intergranular Failure of Roman Silver Artefacts

Intergranular Failure of Roman Silver Artefacts

Abstract:

Silver objects obtained from archaeological excavations often exhibit an extended embrittlement. The causes of this embrittlement were studied on silver artefacts buried for more than one thousand years in the soil using light and electron microscopy techniques and EDX microanalysis. Our investigation revealed presence of chlorine, sulphur and oxygen along the grain boundaries suggesting that most likely, the catastrophic failure of the grave objects made of Ag–Cu alloys is caused by an intercrystalline corrosion attack. The role of possible grain boundary segregation and/or precipitation of copper as a path of easy corrosion is discussed.

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Periodical:

Materials Science Forum (Volumes 567-568)

Pages:

213-216

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.567-568.213

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Cite this paper

Online since:

December 2007

Authors:

Jaroslava Vaníčková, Jiří Děd, P. Bartuška, Pavel Lejček

Keywords:

Archaeological Artefacts, SEM-EDX, Silver Embrittlement, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)

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