Advanced surface techniques for characterization of Cu-base artefacts

Patinae on Cu-base alloys have been characterized by means of GDOS, SEM, XR D and AFM. The effect of a protective coating was tested in aggressive arti ficial solutions. Patinae and the bulk of several metal Panic objects were also examined. The GDOS results combined with SEM capabilities allow exhaus tive investigation of composition, element distribution and microstructure of modified surface in modern bronzes exposed to accelerated ageing tests a s well as in ancient bronzes. The SEM data of the patina thickness agree wi th the GDOS data. The XRD and SEM investigations allow an exhaustive charac terization of corrosion products. Corrosion growth in its Parry stages dete rmines the effectiveness of the patina's protective role and the AFM is a p romising technique for investigating this.