• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.2-9
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• 2004

This study has examined the metallurgical microstructures and alloy compositions of 3 bronze artifacts, a vessel, a spoon and a chopstick, manufactured in the Koryo Dynasty. The results show that they were made from Cu-Sn alloys whose Sn content ranges from 22 to 24% by weight. It is of significant importance to find that they were all given special thermo-mechanical treatments during their manufacturing. It has been found that the Koryo bronze workers were well aware of the mechanical properties of ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, ${\gamma}$ and ${\delta}$ phases that appear in the Cu-Sn alloys. Knowing how to promote or suppress the formation of each phase, they were able to find proper alloy compositions and temperatures for the high Sn alloys to be successfully forged. The present study will detail the Koryo bronze technology as estimated from the microstructures of the 3 bronze artifacts. The results of the reproduction experiments with Cu-24%Sn will also be presented to explain how the microstructures develop and to estimate the mechanical properties of each phase.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 1992

Metallurgical studies of the bronze artifacts excavated from Miruksa Temple were performed by chemical analysis and metallographic observation. Alloy systems of the bronze artifacts were classified into two groups of Cu-Sn and Cu-Sn-Pb, according to the items. The contents of impurities such as Sb, As, Ni and Fe in bronze artifacts are within the limiting range of the mod ern standard bronze castings. Chemical compositions of the kitchen utensils such as bronze vessels and dishes in the Unified Silla dynasty, are in the follow ing range, Cu : 74.8-79.4% and Sn : 18.6-21.1%. Chemical composition of the Buddha-image in Koryo dynasty are 820Cu-7.0Sn-10.3Pb, showing increased Pb content and decreased Sn content. The results of chemical analysis suggest that the chemical compositions were good controlled. Any casting defects such as voids and shrinkage holes are not found microscopically, indicating high casting skill. Zinc atoms are not contained in the all bronze artifacts of Miruksa Temple site. This is the common facts founded in the east asian bronze artifacts of Korea, China and Japan. It is comparable with the European bronze of Cu-Sn-Pb-Zn system, after the Middle Age.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.19
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• pp.109-132
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• 1998

According to excavation of Imdang site, these sites were excavated place to a various of sites from Early lron period to the Koryo Kingdom. Artifacts to be conserved were excavated from A, D and E district. Metal artifacts were excavated from D and E district and lacquer ware artifacts were excavated from Adistrict. Metal artifacts including lacquer ware iron sword, imitative bronze mirror, Osujen and bronze artifact with letter and so on. Bronze artifacts were covered with soil and rust and performed consolidation after passivation treatment with Benzotriazole solution. Also, iron artifacts performed desalting treatment with 0.1M sesquicarbonate solution. After desalinization, adhesive of these artifacts were processed with Araldite(rapid type) after consolidation with20%∼30% NAD-10 solution. Lacquer ware artifacts remained fragments of lacquer to be all corroded and soiled. Therefore these artifacts retained its original form. Fragments of lacquer joined with Caparol 1%∼3% solution and the soil of relics coated with PSNY 3%∼6% solution. There were many kinds of lacquer were. Lacquer ware artifacts presumed to a string instrument that provide important clues for lacquer ware research. As for lacquer fragments inquire, paints grain size were $2∼5\mum$ and conformed to vanished three times.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 2010

Four gilded bronze objects and a gilded silver object were examined for elemental diffusion between the gilding layer and the mating matrix. The gilded bronzes consist of three objects from three different historical periods, the Korean Three Kingdoms period, the Koryo and the Choseon periods and one from an unknown period. The gilded silver was from the Koryo period. The amalgam process seems to have been the major technique employed for all of them in gilding. The occurrence of substantial diffusion was observed in all but the anonymous object, particularly in the Choseon artifact where evidence was found that the diffusion phenomenon was intentionally utilized in gilding. The gold content in the gilded bronzes decreases gradually from surface to interior while the copper content increases to the interior, making it difficult to locate the boundary between the gilding layer and the matrix. This gradual change in composition must have resulted from elemental diffusion at elevated temperatures. The oxygen content negligible in the gilding layer precludes the possibility of corrosion being responsible for the varying composition. It is observed that non-uniform diffusion caused variation of colors in the surface of gilded bronzes. The change of colors induced by diffusion, which is always accompanied by the unique surface morphology and chemical compositions, is distinguished from the color change by corrosion. In the gilded silver object, diffusion of mercury was observed along with that of gold and silver.