CLEANING OF IRON ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS BY CASCADED ARE PLASMA TREATMENT

An effective and fast way of restoration and preservation of archaeolo gical artefacts is described. In this method a high intensity atomic h ydrogen source plasma is used which expands in a low pressure treatmen t vessel. By nuclear techniques the removal of chlorine and the reduct ion of oxides to stable forms is monitored. It proves that both hydrog en atom reduction and thermal decomposition are important. In trial ex periments with artefacts from a shipwreck followed by post-treatment a successful preservation has been shown. Also the removal of the dirt crust of the excavated artefacts was greatly facilitated in the treatm ent.