• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.519-532
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• 2017

Studies on ancient ironmaking technologies are primarily based on archaeological surveys and scientific analysis data, and technological systems are examined by comparing the results of restorative experiments. In this study, to examine the ancient iron production technologies such as smelting and smithing in the Jungwon area, a restoration experiment was conducted based on archaeological data, and the iron and slag, etc. produced in the experiment were analyzed. Further, the changes in physicochemical properties due to the smelting of the raw material, specifically, iron ore were determined, and the smithing process, which involves fabrication of ironwares, was analyzed along with the characteristics of each step. In the case of smelting, increasing recovery rates and production of high-quality primary iron material were important for the following processes. For the iron bars produced through the smithing process, it was found that quality improvements made by reducing physical defects such as inclusions or gas holes were more important than the composition of the iron itself. The study also yielded comparative study data for various byproducts, such as smithing slag, which could be utilized in other ironmaking technology studies.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.499-506
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• 2015

The artifacts of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (Treasure No.326) consist of six items with two long swords, a jade decoration, a belt and two peach-shaped cups. In commemoration of the opening of Chungmugong Yi sun-sin Memorial Museum (April 28, 2011), there were conservation treatments for those artifacts at the beginning of 2011. At that time, from the result of non-destructive surface analysis on pigments in blood-colored grooves of the two long swords, it was presumed to be synthetic resin paints. This study shows the accurate identification on pigments which was presumed as synthetic resin paints and its removal. To identify pigments in blood-colored grooves, the optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, Micro-XRF, XRD and FT-IR were used for the analysis. The results turned out that the thickness of $10{\sim}90{\mu}m$ in a single layer was measured. And major components containing Pb and Cr and lead chromium molybdenum oxide were identified and to identify components of adhesives from the analysis by FT-IR, it turned out to be alkyd resin, which can be presumed that they were recently colored with synthetic paints. The synthetic paints easily react with most of the organic solvents. And it is so easy to handle without the effect on metal that it was removed with acetone. While removing synthetic paints, all of paints on it were collected for identifying whether there is traditional pigment but nothing was identified.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.17
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• pp.55-68
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• 2016

Conservation and research efforts are currently underway at the National Museum of Korea on a series of artifacts excavated from Tomb No. 9 at Seogam-ri nearly a century ago by an archaeology team from the institution's colonialera predecessor. Among these objects are a number of bronze and gilt bronze buttons. The present study explores the production techniques used in making such buttons. Both bronze and gilt bronze buttons are hemispherical in shape and are similar in external appearance. However, their shanks differ significantly in size and cross-sectional shape, some with a round cross-section while others are square. The buttons, first sorted into two groups by each type of shank, were further subdivided by size. Analysis of round shanks has found variations in design and location as well as in shank thickness. In addition, the location where round shanks attach to buttons are usually irregular in surface. Square shanks, on the other hand, are more uniform in design and location. The shanks are typically located on the backs of buttons and attach to a groove which ostensibly serves to mark the correct position. X-ray imaging has revealed that round shanks have thick borders made from metal rather than dirt or other material. The buttons themselves appear to been cast using lost-wax technique. The ways in which each shank attaches to its respective button varies based on its cross-sectional shape.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2012

The archival objects are tangible evidence related to the public service. They are unique and offer information representing the specific events, time or person. The archival objects as modern cultural heritage do not have the guideline to classify, manage and conserve them. Especially, it is difficult to apply general conservation process for burial artifacts, because there are few study example of conservation for metal archival objects and they have complex administrative value. We tried to find suitable material and application method for consolidation of copper alloy archival object. We choose three kinds of wax and acrylic resin for burial artifacts and had done comparative analysis of their characterizations following kinds and coating methods. As a result of evaluation by several surface analysis such as optical microscope, measuring film thickness, adhesive strength, contact angle and yellowing test, acrylic resin can use to archival objects of copper alloy, effectively but the method of heating after dip-coating with Wax B used before can get best effect of consolidation.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.137-145
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• 2015

This study aimed to develop epoxy putty as a multi-purpose connection and restoration material that can be used for material-specific restoration work such as metal, wood, ceramics, earthenware and stone artifacts by replacing synthetic resins currently being used for preservation treatment of cultural assets. Existing synthetic resins have the issue of cutting force resulting from high strength, deflection resulting from long hardening time, contaminating the surface of artifacts through staining on tools or gloves and need for re-treatment resulting from material discoloration. Accordingly, paste type restoration material most widely being used in the field of cultural assets preservation treatment was selected and examined the property to select it as an object of comparison. Based on such process, epoxy putty was developed according to the kind of agent, hardener and filler. For the purpose of solving the issues of existing material and allowing the epoxy putty developed to have similar property, property experiments were conducted by selecting agents and hardeners with different characteristics and conditions. The study findings showed that both kinds are paste type that improved work convenience and deflection issue as a result of their work time of within 5~10 minutes that are about 3~10 times shorter than that of existing material. In regards to wear rate for increasing cutting force, it improved by about 3 times, thereby allowing easy molding. For the purpose of improving the issue of surface contamination that occurs during work process, talc and micro-ballon were added as filler to reduce the issue of stickiness and staining on hand. Furthermore, a multi-purpose restoration material with low shrinkage, low discoloration and high cutting force was developed with excellent coloring, lightweight and cutting force features.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.367-376
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• 2012

The ironware production technology is a measure to fathom the society's level of development in time. To understand iron-manufacure methods in the past, various investigations on the fine structures and additions of ironware remains and Iron ingot have been conducted in a way of natural science. This study metallurgically reclassifies remains excavated in iron-manufacture remains located in Beokje, Goyang, which are thought to be in time of Goryeo Dynasty, and draws an inference from the element analysis on the iron-manufacture and smelting technology. Iron ingot samples with a cast iron structure are divided into those with a white cast iron structure and those with a grey cast iron rich in P. The P content of grey cast iron appeared to be the result of adding a flux agent like lime, iron ingot and carbon steel iron ingot with a cast iron structure excavated in the area is regarded as pig iron which was made without a refining process. In this study it seems that two methods of making ironware were used in the area; one is the method of making ironware by pouring cast iron to the casting, and the other is the method of making carbon steel through the refinement of pig iron. It appears that highly even steel structure of carbon steel and a small amount of MnS inclusion are very similar with that of the modern steel to which Mn is artificially added. Nevertheless, these data alone cannot be used to determine the source of Mn in the carbon steel of the excavated from the iron-manufacture remains, which raises the need for further studies on the source and the possibility of carbon steel via the iron-manufacture process of cast iron.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2015

The purposes of this study are helping the understanding on the Dae-hwe kind relics, verifying the deformation rate stability during conservation treatment and enhancing the conservation treatment work by investigating the status and analyzing the material of Taejo's portrait mounting decorative knots in the National Palace Museum of Korea collection. The result of material analysis on the decorative knots was that the outer threads are silk threads, inner threads are cotton threads, the width of the metal threads was $500{\sim}600{\mu}m$ and the major component of it was 55wt% copper. The result of verification on the deformation rate during the form correction of the bell tassel was that it has been found as stable by having the deformation rate of 1 TPCM or less. The result of glue selection test to be used on the repairing of tassel cross-section with its thread cut was that wheat starch adhesive has been found most appropriate because it has the highest tensile strength at all concentrations. The conservation and treatment procedure was established based on above results of analysis and test on the relic and the conservation treatment work including packaging has been completed in accordance with the established procedure.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.4-17
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• 2017

In this research, the chemical composition of the iron artifacts from the late 6th-century to early 7thcentury Baekje remains in Gwanbuk-ri, Buyeo, specifically of the nine iron artifacts including slags, furnace walls and ingot iron excavated in the District "Na", were examined by observing their chemical compounds and microstructures. As a result, GB1 and GB6 were determined to be proto-reduction lumps whereas GB2, GB3, GB4 and GB5 were determined to be tempered slags, respectively. Also, he furnace wall GB7 were containing mullite and cristobalite, which are high temperature index minerals, The extrusion temperature was found out to be about $1200{\sim}1300^{\circ}C$, and it is most likely that the smelting temperature in the furnace was in that temperature range. GB8 ingot iron was determined to be a forged ironware. This ingot iron was an intermediary product for making ironware and its nonmetallic inclusions displayed similar microstructure and contents compared to the forged iron. Because of the existence of proto-reduction lumps and forged iron, the iron making facility located in District "Na" most likely had a small-scale iron making facility that handled iron bloom smelting and refining processes.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.160-171
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• 2019

The sword with a ring pommel, which was excavated from the first stone chamber of the ancient tombs of Jeongchon Village in Naju, is a sword with a pentagon undecorated ring pommel consisting of a mother sword and two child swords. The sword with an undecorated ring pommel of Jeongchon comprises a ring pommel, a hilt, a knife, and a knife end decoration. This sword was coated with lacquer. The ring pommel is an iron frame covered with silver plate; however the silver tarnished into a light purple due to silver chloride corrosion, and iron corrosion originated from the inside is visible on the surface. Silver chloride corrosion is produced when silver objects are exposed to water, dissolved salts, and dissolved chloride ions when in a buried state. It changes objects into powder, making it difficult to preserve original shapes. The other silver artifacts found in the Jeongchon ancient tombs show similar signs of corrosion. The results of X-ray irradiation and a CT analysis showed that the sword had a ring at the end of the handle, a T-shaped hilt, and was probably connected to the handle end of a knife. If the shape of the mother sword can be inferred from the child swords, the mother sword had a ring pommel, decorations of the handle, covered with silver plate, and a gold ring and a silver line wound around the handle. It is assumed that the ring pommel was connected to the knife by welding because no holes were observed. The end decoration of the knife was made by using an iron plate formed into a shape, half covered by silk, and the other half decorated with silver plate and a gold ring. The sword with an undecorated ring pommel excavated from the ancient tombs of Jeongchon Village comprises the metals of gold, silver, and iron, and includes features of Baekje, Silla, and Gaya, which highlights the influence of surrounding historic sites and various cultures.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.22
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• pp.115-132
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• 2001

No. 3 Tomb of Bogam-ri, in Naju City, Chollanam-do Province, was a site excavated and inspected from 1996 to 1998 and had a various grave forms, including jar-coffins, stone-chambers and stone-cists. Although most of the metal artifacts excavated from it were severely corroded, we could implement microstructure investigation by collecting samples from the iron axes, iron coffin-nails and iron clamps in which the metal parts were remained. The metal structures were inspected by using metallographic microscope and SEM, and fine components analysis was implemented by ICP. To examine the hardness differences in accordance with the structure distribution, we measured the hardness by structures with Vickers hardness testing machine. As a result of the metal structure inspection, most of them were pure iron, ferrite, and also pearlite, cementite and widmannstaten structures were displayed. We could confirm carbonization was formed on the surface of the iron axes-B, iron coffin-nails-B, and iron clamps-A. There was no carbonization in the rest of the artifacts, and it is not certain that whether the carbonized parts were peeled off through extreme corrosion or they were not carbonized when they were made. In the particular part of a blade, the quality of the material was strengthened through processing. Due to the processing re-grain was caused and fine grain particles were formed. As a result of the ICP component analysis, there were no addition atoms because pure irons were used as materials. In the mean time, No. 17 jar-coffin where the iron axes-A are excavated, is chronologically ordered as from the late-fourth century to the mid-fifth century, and No. 1 and No. 2 stone chambers, where the rest of the artifacts were excavated, as the early-sixth century. It was difficult to relate the periodic differences with the manufacture technique artifacts which we inspected because there were no distinct characteristics of the manufacture technique of the metal structures and it is impossible to conclude the artifacts and sites are at the same period although their periods are different.