• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.296-305
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• 2020

Konbaung Dynasty was the last unified dynasty that ruled Myanmar from 18^th to 19^th century. During this time Buddhist art flourished in Myanmar due to the interest of the rulers toward their traditional culture. Metal decorative artifacts in the 18^th century are classified into structures and Buddha statues. They are further subdivided into gilt-bronze and bronze objects, depending on their material component. Three-dimensional gilt-bronze decorative artifacts were cast with a brass alloy of Cu-Zn-Sn-Pb and their surfaces were gilded with extremely thin gold leaves (less than 1 ㎛ in thickness). The gilded layer approximately comprised 10 wt% silver in addition to the main element, gold. The lack of Hg in the gilded layer, indicated that the amalgam gilding technique was not applied. The analysis results indicated that the lacquered gilding technique was applied to the objects. Bronze decorative artifacts without gilding were cast with materials containing Cu-Sn-Pb. The bronze pavilions and bronze Buddha staues were crafted using the same alloy of high-tin bronze, which approximately contained 20 wt% Sn. No heat treatment was applied to reduce the brittleness of the objects after they were cast with a large amount of Sn. The most significant difference between the gilt-bronze and bronze decorative artifacts lie in their elemental compositions. The gilt-bronze decorative artifacts with their gilded surface were manufactured using brass containing zinc, while the unplated bronze decorative artifacts were composed of bronze containing tin. Artifacts of the same type and size are classified differently depending on the materials utilized in the surface treatment such as gilding.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.355-366
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• 2013

Diverse scientific analyses, including microstructure, ICP-AES, SEM-EDS, and P-XRF(Bench Top type and Gun type), were carried out on 6 bronze artefacts which handed from generation to generation. Also, we attempted to study applicability for authenticity of the bronze artefacts using scientific analyses based on the specific element. The results of ICP-AES analysis showed that the bronze were formed from an alloy of Cu, Sn, Pb with trace elements such as Ag, As, Co, Fe, but there were not Zn found. The result of P-XRF are 10~25% lower in Cu and 10~20% higher in Sn than that of ICP-AES. This is because of destannification that the compound of $SnO_2$ are present on the surface. The results of SEM-EDS represented that there is lead segregation. It was difficult to study applicability for authenticity of bronze artefact according to the microstructures and chemical components of the bronze artefacts. Therefore, as bronze artefacts have shown different corrosion materials depending on the buried environment and conserving environment, identifying the authenticity would be possible on the basis of the additional researches on the corrosion and comparative research of ancient art.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.27
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• pp.5-22
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• 2006

Mireuksa is a temple that was established in the Baekjea Period and continued around to the 16thcentury. The sites of the temple throughout diverse periods such as the United Shilla Period, KoryuPeriod, and Chosun Period including the one of the early temple in the late Baekjea Period were discovered. In those temple sites, there were lots of diverse artifacts discovered including artifacts in the Bronze Age. In this study, the compositions of four bronze bells excavated from Mireuksa site in Iksan were analyzed and the manufacturing technique of bronze bells was studied through the observation of microstructure. Also, the analytical cases of ancient bronze bells were collected and compared. Furthermore, the provenance study of the bronze bells site was attempted with the Pbisotope ratio. The results aim to offer crucial keys for discovering the aspect of society as well as information about the origin, development, and the route of propagation of ancient technologies. Bronze bell No. 1 showed an unexpected composition as Cu was found 98.5% in it. There were shown twins which were created by annealing and an even phase in the fine grains. It was also shown that bronze bell No. 2 and 4 had a high content of Pb although they showed a similar composition with general bronze bells in terms of Sn content. As shown in the analysis characteristics table of Korean bronze bell of this study, the ancient bronze bell used Pb of which content was limited to 2.12% in general, however, the results showed 15.5% and 13.2% respectively, which is an excessive amount. Asa result of analyzing inclusion in the microstructure of bronze bell No. 2, it was found that sulfide group mineral was used since there appeared S(14.55%). Also, it was proven that $CuFeS_2$ or$Cu_5FeS_4$ was used as a raw material because there was a small amount of Fe. As a result of analyzing inclusion of bronze bell No. 4, the bronze bell sample contained S(13.43%) and it is thought that sulfide group mineral was used, however, it had no Fe. Therefore, it is not connected to $CuFeS_2$ which is the main mineral of Korea. In addition, a strain line was shown with processing in bronze bell No. 2 and 4. As a result of provenance study of bronze bell No. 2 and 4 using the Pb isotope ratio, they or their raw materials are estimated to come from the southern China. Bronze bell No. 3 showed only Cu and Sn, and it is featured with a relatively low amount of Sn(6.63%). The microstructure has only phase, andintergranular corrosion was highly in progress.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.221-235
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• 2013

To obtain bronze with good mechanical properties and high wear resistance, a new bronze (CADZ) is proposed on the basis of various fundamental information. The CADZ consists of the elements Al10.5, Fe4.2, Sn3.7 and Ni3.1, and its design is based on Cu-Al10.5 alloy. The Cu-10.5%Al is very hard and brittle. To obtain the high material ductility of the Cu-10.5%Al alloy, an attempt was made to add a few percent of Sn. Moreover, to make high strength of the Cu alloy, microstructure with small grains was created by the proper amount of Fe and Ni (Fe/Ni = 0.89). The mechanical properties of the CADZ sample have been examined experimentally, and those were compared with commercial bronzes. The tensile strength and wear resistance of CADZ are higher than those for commercial bronzes. Although the ductility of CADZ is the lower level, the strain to failure of CADZ is about 2.0~5.0% higher than that for the Cu-Al10.5 alloy. Details of the microstructural effects on the mechanical properties in the CADZ sample were further discussed using various experimental results.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.411-420
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• 2009

A series of scientific analyses, including ICP-AES, microstructure, and TIMS, were carried out on 5 bronze spoons among 14 bronze artifacts excavated from the Ok-dong site in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. The results of analysis showed that the bronze spoons were formed from an alloy of no more than 75% Cu and 21~23% Sn, placing it in the category of brassware, with trace elements such as Pb, Fe, and Zn. In particular, plumbum Pb contents of which traces of 0.04% were found, appears to have been added as an impurity during smelting. The microstructure of the bronze spoons suggests that the casting process involved using a spoon-shaped hollow mold, followed by an ropid-cooling process after the shape was perfected at approximately $586^{\circ}C$. After comparison of data measured from thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) of galena from Korea, China, and Japan, it appears that the raw materials for the bronze spoons included galena (lead sulfide) produced from the southern part of China.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2010

A bronze dagger excavated from the historical site at Bongili in Gyeongju was examined for its microstructure and chemical compositions. The results show that it was forged out of the Cu-10 weight % Sn alloy having no lead. The application of forging in fabrication and the use of an unleaded alloy distinguish this artifact from other bronze daggers that have been reported in Korea, the majority of which were cast from leaded Cu-Sn alloys. This dagger is a rare and valuable archaeological material suggesting a unique bronze technology practiced in ancient Gyeongju area.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2012

The effects of Bi and Sb additions on the microstructures and casting properties in lead-free Cu-Zn-Sn broze were investigated. (1) When only Bi was added to the bronze, Bi was precipitated on the ${\delta}$ phase of ${\alpha}$ dendrite cell boundary. When Bi and Sb were added together, Bi was precipitated on the ${\delta}_A$ which was the Sb-rich area in the ${\delta}$ phase. (2) The addition of Sb accelerated the formation of ${\delta}$ phase, and when Sb, Bi and Pb were added, Bi and Pb were precipitated as mixed solution in the ${\delta}_A$ phase. (3) The combined addition of Sb and Bi resulted in the suppression of shrinkage due to the complementary effects of the mass feeding of ${\alpha}$-dendrite cluster covered with ${\delta}$ phase and sealing of micro-shrinkage in the ${\delta}$ phase by solidification expansion of Bi.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.767-777
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• 2021

This study analyzed the microstructures and chemical composition of three samples of bronze mirrors excavated in the Jeollanam-do region, particularly Goheung and Damyang. Under x-ray irradiation, the analysis results confirmed the broken parts and pores caused by cracks, casting, and corrosion. Major and minor elemental analysis were performed on three mirrors by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) and Inductively coupled plasma mass spe ctrome try (ICP-MS). The re sult shows that the bronze mirrors containe d Cu-Sn-Pb alloys. Alpha phase and eutectic phase were observed in the microstructure, confirming that the casting was performed without additional heat treatment. Notably, Three bronze mirrors were made early Three Kingdoms period in Korea.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.10
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• pp.1-13
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• 2009

A part of the bronze bell from Goryeo (918-1392) in the collection of Buyeo National Museum was missing, and it was noted to retain corrosion products and burial accretions. Chemical analysis showed that the chemical composition of the bronze bell is Cu (74.18%), Sn (9.58%), Pb (15.77%), and very small amounts of As, Fe, Sb, Bi, and Ag. It was noted that the microstructure of the bronze bell was mainly made up of α phase and α+δ eutectoid phase, and gray (S) and black (Pb segregation) prevailed. Conservation treatment has been done for the preservation of this bronze bell.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.208-227
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• 2013

Twenty-seven bronze bowls excavated from the Goryo burial complex at Deobu-gol were examined for their microstructure and chemical composition to characterize the bronze technology practiced by commoners at the time. Results showed that the objects examined can be classified into four groups: 1) objects forged out of Cu-near 22%Sn alloys and then quenched; 2) objects cast from Cu-below 10% Sn alloys containing lead; 3) objects cast from Cu-10%~20% Sn alloys containing lead and then quenched; 4) objects forged out of Cu-10~20% Sn alloys containing lead and then quenched. This study revealed that the fabrication technique as determined by alloy compositions plays an important role in bronze technology. The use of lead was clearly associated with the selection of quenching temperatures, the character of inclusions and the color characteristics of bronze surfaces. It was found that the objects containing lead were quenched at temperatures of $520^{\circ}{\sim}586^{\circ}C$ while those without lead were quenched at the range of $586^{\circ}{\sim}799^{\circ}C$. The presence of selenium in impurity inclusions was detected only in alloys containing lead, suggesting that the raw materials, Cu and Sn, used in making the lead-free alloys for the first group were carefully selected from those smelted using ores without lead contamination. Furthermore, the addition of lead was found to have significant effects on the color characteristics of the surface of bronze alloys when they are subjected to corrosion during interment. In leaded alloys, corrosion turns the surface light green or dark green while in unleaded alloys, corrosion turns the surface dark brown or black. It was found that in fabrication, the wall thickness of the bronze bowls varies depending on the application of quenching; most of the quenched objects have walls 1mm thick or below while those without quenching have walls 1mm thick or above. Fabrication techniques in bronze making usually reflect social environments of a community. It is likely that in the late Goryo period, experiencing lack of skilled bronze workers, the increased demand for bronze was met in two ways; by the use of chief lead instead of expensive tin and by the use of casting suitable for mass production. The above results show that the Goryo bronze workers tried to overcome such a resource-limited environment through technological innovations as apparent in the use of varying fabrication techniques for different alloys. Recently, numerous bronze objects are excavated and available for investigation. This study shows that with the use of proper analytical techniques they can serve as a valuable source of information required for the characterization of the associated technology as well as the social environment leading to the establishment of such technology.