| Abstract: | SUMMARIES. Electrolysis performs three useful functions for the conservator: it mechanically cleans artifact surfaces, removes salt, and (theoretically) reduces corrosion products. Because each of these functions is fundamentally different, they must be separated for study. Mechanical cleaning and the reduction of corrosion products during electrolysis are recognized as relatively minor effects; therefore, from the perspective of the archaeological conservator, the most important function is chloride removal. The authors implemented a study to discover what current density most efficiently promotes this function with respect to wrought-iron artifacts recovered from marine environments. Complete data are presented for three experiments performed on archaeological specimens in which current was controlled and the quantity of chloride removed was measured. Over the course of four experiments, the lower current density of 50μA.cm-2 removed an average of 4•9 times more chloride (expressed in mg.A-1hr-1) than a higher current density of 200A.cm-2. |
|---|
