Characterization of a Historical Cannonball from the Fortress of San Juan De Ulúa Exposed to a Marine Environment

Metallurgical analyses and chemical characterizations were carried out on historical cannonballs from the Fortress of San Juan de Ulúa, Veracruz, México. Cannonballs dating from the 18th and 19th centuries share metallurgical characteristics similar to those of material coming from a shipment of ammunition found in the wreck of a sunken French ship from the battle of Trafalgar. The analyses show that the base material is grey cast iron with a carbon equivalent of 4.94 and a ferritic–perlitic matrix, in which the high phosphorus content has led to the formation of iron phosphide compounds in conjunction with a homogeneous distribution of carbon graphite flakes of Type C. In addition, corrosion products from samples revealed the presence of various crystalline iron compounds (X‐ray diffraction), mostly highly chlorinated iron compounds identified as akaganeite. X‐ray fluorescence identified various characteristics of the corrosion products as a function of the sampling depth. FT–IR spectroscopy revealed that the main difference between the corrosion products (internal and external) is determined by the number of organic species. Differential scanning calorimetry corroborated that these corrosion products are thermally stable compounds at elevated temperatures.     

Evidence of Metallic Plating on Archaeological Artefacts by Voltammetry of Microparticles

Voltammetry of microparticles using a paraffin‐impregnated graphite electrode (VMP/PIGE) was applied as a very local and non‐invasive analytical technique in order to investigate the presence of remains of metallic plating on two ferrous and one cuprous artefact from the medieval period. The analyses have been performed locally and selectively on regions presenting particular features, such as texture, cohesion and colour differences. The results confirm local differences in chemical composition, leading to conclusions about the presence of metallic plating on these artefacts.     

运用科学技术方法对清代珐琅的研究

作者运用原子发射光谱、扫描电子显微镜、偏光显微镜和金相显微镜,对故宫博物院藏清代珐琅残片进行了实验分析。研究中.对构成珐琅的硅酸盐材料、铜材料、焊接材料以及镀金层的元素组成进行了测试;对珐琅残片断面的焊接层和镀金层的微观形貌、焊接层的金相组织进行了观察和鉴别。在此基础上,运用结晶学、矿物学、金属学和金相学的基础理论对珐琅原料种类、各种原料的作用、珐琅料的熔制与烧蓝、铜材料与焊接材料的合金属性、焊层的金相组织、掐丝珐琅的烧制工艺等问题加以探讨,试图藉现代科技手段揭示清代珐琅所包含的科学技术内涵。     

“错金银”新论

对"错金银"的定名,学界素有争议,令人对错金银的认识更加疑惑,因此有必要对"错金银"再作探讨。为此,本研究从跨学科的多元视角,结合中国境内和中亚草原出土的"错金银"文物和相关文献,对战国秦汉时期"鎏金"、"嵌错"和"贴金"等工艺的技术特征和工艺内涵进行探讨。对一些出土文物的检测结果表明,这一时期传统的贴金工艺出现"敷金"、"汞贴金"等新的应用。此外,通过与中亚草原同类器物比较,发现甘肃张家川马家塬墓地发现的饰金铁器采用了集嵌错和贴金为一体的综合技术,为草原文化影响下的本土创新。这类出土文物将是今后研究的重点。在欧亚大陆物质文化交流的大背景下,这一时期的金属工艺既有传统技术的革新,同时也有新技术的输入。     

中国古代金饰文化板块论

古代金饰记载缺佚,其发展状况实难廓清。经耙梳发掘出土金饰,不难发现金饰晚出,始于夏商,承传至清。各地金饰功能不同,其工艺、形式、风格异彩纷呈,独具一格而又互有联系、取长补短。从宏观层面以板块概全4000余年金饰文化的运动规律,先后出现了北方草原游牧部落金饰文化、黄河长江流域粟稻农作华夏族群金饰文化、西南高原红土带农牧群落金饰文化、中原帝王金饰文化等四大金饰文化板块,始终处于互为碰撞、交流、整合、承传、创新的运动过程之中,创造了金丝片、锤鍱、錾刻至焊金粟珠、编丝、掐丝、累丝、镶嵌以及错金银等金细工艺。这四大板块是由于环境、气候、产业、食物链的多样性等物质的、文化的客观条件决定的,同时又促成其局部范围金饰文化亚板块的形成与发展。4000余年的中国古代金饰文化发展变化无不受其板块运动的制约和推动。     

A Study on the Evolution in Design and Calculation of Iron and Steel Structures over the Mid 19th Century in Western and Central Europe

ABSTRACT

The design of metallic structures in the 19th century is a subject topic of much admiration, as many emblematic structures that are currently withstanding the test of time have become part of our built cultural heritage. Knowledge on the assumptions and design procedures available at that time is of importance to structural engineering nowadays. It allows for the understanding, maintaining and safe extending of the service life of historical metallic structures. The goal of this article is to describe the evolution in the design and calculation of metallic structures during the second half of the 19th century, with focus on Western and Central Europe. Special attention is paid to the similarities and differences between the 19th century design rules and the current structural design standards. Based on a literature survey, the evolution in terms of load definition, calculation methods, material properties, and verifications are described. Different design aspects are illustrated through a case study: The Garabit viaduct in France.     

化学镀与电刷镀技术在鎏金铜器修复中的应用研究

为研究化学镀与电刷镀技术在鎏金铜器修复中的应用,使用扫描电镜、X射线衍射等测试方法对样品进行实验。结果发现在模拟补配材料的样品上镀覆效果良好,并对一件有残缺的鎏金铜器实施茬口清理、补配、化学镀、电刷镀等保护修复技术处理,完成一件器物独立配件的制备。修复后器物形态完整,外观和谐,再现了器物的美学价值。     

Quantitative non-destructive analysis of metals in artefacts

Work on corroded lead-iron shot from the Mary Rose led to the development of two non-destructive techniques which can be employed to determine quantitatively the amounts of metals in a bimetallic artefact. The methods are described, equations produced and experiments conducted to authenticate the data produced. Both methods are relatively simple and need little equipment.