• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2015

Bronzes, Earthenwares and various artifacts were excavated from Pungnap earthen fortress in the early Baekje age in Korea. This study was performed in order to identify the manufacture technology of bronze artefacts and provenance of lead in bronzes. Microstructure and chemical composition results show that 3 of them are Cu-Sn-Pb alloys in which an intentional lead addition was carried out and one is tin bronze showing straight twin structure within crystal grains. Also $CuFeS_2$ or $Cu_5FeS_4$ was used as raw materials through the detection of S and Fe as trace elements. The lead isotope results could be matched with one of the zones of southern Korea and China on the East Asian map. This results shows that data were plotted either in zone 2 or zone 3 of the South Korean galena map. However, one of bronze artifacts was matched with the zone of Northern China.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.207-217
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• 2009

After replicating 10 bronze types such as Gyemija, Gyeongjaja, Eulhaeja, etc. before the Imjin war, we studied the change of microstructure from each casting process, method, and alloy ratio by Gyechukja replicated from "Donggukyeojiseungnam". We selected the average of compositions of Eulhaeja in the National Museum of Korea as the standard(Cu 86.7%, Sn: 9.7%, Pb: 2.3%) of bronze types, so we decided on the alloy's composition of Cu 87%, Sn 15%, Pb 8% added to 5% Sn and Pb contents because of evaporating the Sn and the Pb. Before replicating major metal types, we made master-alloy first, melting it again, and then replicated metal types. The composition of the 1'st replicated Gyechukja showed the range of Cu 85.81~87.63%, Sn 9.27~10.51%, Pb 3.05~3.19%. The 2'nd replicated Gyechukja made using the branch metal left after casting the 1st replica. The 2nd replicated Gyechukja showed the composition range of Cu 87.21~88.09%, Sn 9.06~9.36%, Pb 2.80~3.05%. This result decreases a little contents of Sn and Pb as compared with metal types of the 1st replica. However, it's almost the same as the Eulhaeja's average composition ratio in the National Museum of Korea. As a result of observing the microstructure of restored Gyechukja, it showed the dendrite structure of the typical casting structure and the segregation of Pb. There is no big difference of microstructure between the 1st and the 2nd restored metal types, even though the 2nd restored types partially decreases the eutectoid region in comparison with the 1st types. The systematic and scientific restoration experiment of metal types using Joseon period will be showed the casting method and alloy ratio, and this will be of great help to the study of restoration metal types in the future.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2019

This study intends to identify manufacturing techniques, including casting and alloy composition, of nine metal Buddha statues excavated from archaeological sites in Bagan, Myanmar. Two Buddha statues from Pyu city state(2^nd to 9^th century) contain Cu-Sn alloy(including <1 wt% Fe), with different relatively high percentages of Sn(16 wt% and 25 wt%) identified from each Buddha statue, and no Pb detected. Five Buddha statues from the Bagan dynasty contain various alloy ratios of Cu-Sn(including <1 wt% Pb), Cu-Sn-Pb, and Cu-Sn-Zn-Pb. All Buddha statues appear to be fabricated by casting, as there is no evidence of other heat treatments. The silver Buddha statue manufactured in the 18^th century includes >1% Cu besides silver with no additional metallic components identified. The bronze Buddha statue manufactured in the Konbaung dynasty(18^th century) is of Cu-Sn-Pb alloy. The Buddha statues of Pyu was alloy of Cu-Sn without Pb including ahigh percentage of The Buddha statues of both the Bagan and Konbaung dynasties are comprised of ternary Cu-Sn-Pb alloys, with a heterogeneous distribution of lead and tin. Some of Buddha statues of the Bagan dynasty have similar alloy ratios as those of Pyu, suggesting that similar manufacturing techniques were used.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.224-243
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• 2014

This study examined the materials and casting technology(cast, alloy, etc.) used in the manufacturing of bronze artifacts based on old literature such as Yongjae Chonghwa, Cheongong Geamul, and The Korea Review. In the casting experiment for restoration of Sangpyong Tongbo, a bronze and brass mother coin mold was made using the sand mold casting method described in The Korea Review. The cast was comprised of the original mold plate frame, wooden frame, and molding sand. Depending on the material of the outer frame, which contains the molding sand, the original mold plate frame can be either a wooden frame or steel frame. For the molding sand, light yellow-colored sand of the Jeonbuk Iri region was used. Next, the composition of the mother alloy used in the restoration of Sangpyong Tongbo was studied. In consideration of the evaporation of tin and lead during actual restoration, the composition of Cu 60%, Zn 30%, and Pb 10% for brass as stated in The Korea Review was modified to Cu 60%, Zn 35%, and Pb 15%. For bronze, based on the composition of Cu 80%, Sn 6%, and Pb 14% used for Haedong Tongbo, the composition was set as Cu 80%, Sn 11%, and Pb 19%. The mother coin mold was restored by first creating a wooden father coin, making a cast from the wooden frame and basic steel frame, alloying, casting, and making a mother coin. Component analysis was conducted on the mother alloy of the restored Sangpyong Tongbo, and its primary and secondary casts. The bronze mother alloy saw a 5% increase in copper and 4% reduction in lead. The brass parent alloy had a 5% increase in copper, but a 4% and 12% decrease in lead and tin respectively. Analysis of the primary and secondary mother coin molds using an energy dispersive spectrometer showed that the bronze mother coin mold had a reduced amount of lead, while the brass mother coin mold had less tin. This can be explained by the evaporation of lead and tin in the melting of the primary mother coin mold. In addition, the ${\alpha}$-phase and lead particles were found in the mother alloy of bronze and brass, as well as the microstructure of the primary and secondary coin molds. Impurities such as Al and Si were observed only in the brass mother coin mold.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2020

In excavated bronze artifacts, corrosion products of various shapes and colors are observed due to multiple corrosion factors coexisting in the burial environment, and these corrosion products can constitute important data not only in terms of long-term corrosion-related information, but also in connection with preservation of artifacts. As such, scientific analysis is being carried out on the corrosion layer and corrosion products of bronze artifacts, and the corrosion mechanism and the characteristics of corrosion products elucidated, which is essential for interpreting the exposed burial environment and its association with corrosion factors inside the burial environment. In this study, after classifying excavated bronze artifacts according to alloy ratio and fabrication technique, comprehensive analysis of the surface of corrosion artifacts, corrosion layer, and corrosion products was carried out to investigate the corrosion mechanism, formation process of the corrosion layer, and characteristics of corrosion products. The study designated two groups according to alloy ratio and fabrication technique. In Group 1, which involved a Cu-Sn-Pb alloy and had no heat treatment, the surface was rough and external corrosion layers were formed on a part, or both sides, of the inside and the outside, and the surface was observed as being green or blue. α+δ phase selection corrosion was found in the metal and some were found to be concentrated in an empty space with a purity of 95 percent or more after α+δ phase corrosion. The Cu-Sn alloy and heat-treated Group 2 formed a smooth surface with no external corrosion layer, and a dark yellow surface was observed. In addition, no external corrosion layer was observed, unlike Group 1, and α corrosion was found inside the metal. In conclusion, it can be seen that the bronze artifacts excavated from the same site differ in various aspects, including the formation of the corrosion layer, the shape and color of the corrosion products, and the metal ion migration path, depending on the alloy ratio and fabrication technique. They also exhibited different corrosion characteristics in the same material, which means that different forms of corrosion can occur depending on the exposure environment in the burial setting. Therefore, even bronze artifacts excavated from the same site will have different corrosion characteristics depending on alloy ratio, fabrication technique, and exposure environment. The study shows one aspect of corrosion characteristics in specific areas and objects; further study of corrosion mechanisms in accordance with burial conditions will be required through analysis of the corrosive layer and corrosive product characteristics of bronze artifacts from various regions.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.224-233
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• 2018

Thirty-three Early Iron Age bronzes at the sites of Hoam-dong in Chungju and Cheongsong-ri in Buyeo were investigated in order to study the manufacturing technique and the provenance of lead. Chemical analysis using X-ray fluorescence showed that 33 bronzes consist of copper(Cu), tin(Sn) and lead(Pb) served as major elements. Major and minor elemental analyses by EPMA were performed on two mirrors and 2 weapons of the bronzes investigated. The results shows that bronze mirrors from Chungju and Buyeo were high-tin bronzes(> 30 wt%). And 20% of tin and 5% of lead were founded in bronze weapons. Iron, zinc, arsenic, silver, nickel, sulfur and cobalt detected in four bronzes as minor and trace elements. The four bronzes were alloyed considering their function and were not heat treated after casting due to their high tin content. Lead isotope analysis using TIMS indicates that thirty-three bronzes were distributed southern Korea peninsula except Zone 1. As a result, lead raw materials came from various regions in Korean Peninsula not from Gyeongsang-do regions. The manufacturing techniques of bronze ware generalized at this age, and bronze was produced in various sites using raw materials from various sources.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.493-502
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• 2018

Currently, the fabrication of a high-tin bronze spoon by traditional manufacturing techniques involves 10 steps in the bronze ware workshop. Hot forging has a major influence on manufacturing and involves two to three steps. The dendritic ${\alpha}$-phase in the microstructure of the high-tin bronze spoon is refined and finely dispersed through hot forging. In addition, twinning is observed in the ${\alpha}$-phase of the hammered part, and the ${\alpha}$-phase microstructure gradually transform from a polygon to a circular shape due to hammering. In this process, the adjacent ${\alpha}$-phases overlap with each other and remain combined after quenching. The microstructure with the overlapping is also observed in bronze artifacts, and this shows the correlation with technical system. The results of the experimental hot forging of Cu-22%Sn alloys show that the decrease in in the amount of the dendritic microstructure, which forms during casting, is in proportion to the number of processing steps and that the refined grain obtained by hammering contributes to the improvement in the strength of the material. From the hammering marks, which are observed on both the bronze artifact excavated from archaeological sites and on the high-tin bronze spoon produced in the traditional workshop, it is presumed that the knowledge regarding the unrecorded manufacturing system of bronze ware in ancient times has been passed down in a traditional way up to the system used currently.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.8
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• pp.1-12
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• 1987

Fifty ancient Korean coins originated in Choson dynasty have been determined for 9 elements such as Sn, Fe, As, Ag, Co, Sb, Ir, Ru and Ni by instrumental neutron activation analysis and for 3 elements such as Cu, Pb, and Zn by atomicalsorption spectrometry. Bronze coins originated in early days of the dynasty contain as major constituents Cu, Pb and Sn approximately in the ratio 90 : 4 : 3, where as, those in latter days contain in the ratio 7 : 2 : 0. Brass coins which had begun in 17century contain as major constituents Cu, Zn and Pb approximately in the ratio 7 : 1: 1. The multivariate date have been analyzed for the relation among elemental contents through the variance-covariance matrix. The data have been fur theranalyzed by a principal component mapping method. As the results training set of 8class have been chosen, based on the spread of sample points in an eigenvector plotand archaeolgical data such as age and the office of minting.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.21
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• pp.53-66
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• 2019

This study describes the processes undertaken for the conservation treatment of metal artifacts excavated in Hasong-ri, Yeongwol, Gangwon-do and the results of the related surface composition analysis. X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) was applied to analyze the surface composition of a small gilt-bronze wind chime, two clappers, and a small gourd-shaped bronze bottle. The gourd-shaped bronze bottle was investigated using radiography to examine its internal structure. The wind chime and clappers were excavated from the same location. A gilt layer was identified on the wind chime, but surface corrosion made it difficult to identify any such layers on the clappers. The element analysis revealed that the wind chime was made of bronze in a Cu-Sn-Pb ternary system and was gilt-plated using mercury amalgam. The clappers were made from copper with a small amount of gold detected, but did not show any evidence of mercury. Since a thick corrosion layer was affixed to the surface of each clapper, it was impossible to identify the surface composition and determine if the clappers had been gilded. It is possible that the gold detected from the clappers was a foreign substance or had detached from the giltbronze wind chime buried alongside them. The small gourd-shaped bronze bottle was investigated through surface element analysis and radiography to verify if it was a type of silver bottle used as currency during the Goryeo dynasty. The radiography photography identified that a small hole in the middle of the base had been stopped up. The general surface analysis did not detect silver, which suggests that the bottle was made of bronze instead and was not one of the silver bottles used as a means of currency.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.23
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• pp.149-162
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• 2002

Gilt bronze locks(Treasure No. 1141) excavated from Hancheonsa temple are artifacts of Goryeo Dynasty. The locks underwent a conservation process from October 2001 to July 2002. The process included cleaning and the application of corrosion inhibitors, Benzotriazolesolution, as well as reinforcement treatment with Paraloid NAD-10 solution,an acrylic resin. Non-destructive XRF analysis unveil that the artifacts are made of an alloy of copper(Cu), tin(Sn) and lead(Pb), but the gilt layer is too thin to analyze the purity of the gold or the exact production method. Gilt bronze locks are important materials because they preserve all the structures of locks in Goryeo Dynasty to the smallest detail. The surface pattern is revealed through the conservation process and components of the alloy through material analysis.