Characterization of a heavily corroded bronze statue from Pharaonic Egypt

Abstract

The current study aims to characterize a heavily corroded bronze statue from Pharaonic Egypt, in terms of the morphology and mechanism of corrosion. The characterization was carried out by a combination of methods, including the scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), USB digital microscope, X‐ray micro‐diffraction, and Raman micro‐spectroscopy. Insights into the morphology and corrosion mechanisms of two corrosion stages are presented. Specifically, the metallic‐wall layer was first converted into grayish‐brown corrosion mottled with green and gray spots in the central part, in which a greenish‐white corrosion phase was formed in the second stage. The EDS analysis of the greenish‐white phase revealed the predominance of tin, copper, oxygen, and carbon and a low chlorine content. The greenish‐white phase consisted of four corrosion products: romarchite, cassiterite, malachite, and a small amount of atacamite. The morphology developed upon corrosion was attributed to the selective dissolution and depletion of copper in the central layer, internal oxidation of tin, and conversion of cuprite into malachite. Moreover, the usual bronze corrosion products were formed as a superficial layer on the statue.