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Inorganic Materials: Metals

The document discusses various inorganic materials used in historical objects, including metals and alloys. It describes common metals like gold, silver, copper, tin, and iron, and alloys such as bronze (copper-tin), brass (copper-zinc), pewter (tin alloy), and electrum (gold-silver). It explains concepts like corrosion, oxidation, and how materials like bronze can develop patinas or suffer from "bronze disease" over time. Specific examples discussed include the Iron Pillar of Delhi, Bidriware metal handicrafts, and Chola period bronzes from India.

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Charmil Gandhi
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45 views27 pages

Inorganic Materials: Metals

The document discusses various inorganic materials used in historical objects, including metals and alloys. It describes common metals like gold, silver, copper, tin, and iron, and alloys such as bronze (copper-tin), brass (copper-zinc), pewter (tin alloy), and electrum (gold-silver). It explains concepts like corrosion, oxidation, and how materials like bronze can develop patinas or suffer from "bronze disease" over time. Specific examples discussed include the Iron Pillar of Delhi, Bidriware metal handicrafts, and Chola period bronzes from India.

Uploaded by

Charmil Gandhi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Inorganic Materials

METALS

Dr. Aditya Kanth


Assistant Professor
Centre for Heritage Management
Metallic Heritage
Metals in Heritage
• Gold
• Silver
• Copper
• Lead
• Tin
• Zinc
• Iron
Some alloys in historical objects
• Electrum
• Bronze
• Brass
• Bell Metal
• Pewter
Some alloys in historical objects
• Electrum (Gold + Silver)
• Bronze (Copper + Tin)
• Brass (Copper + Zinc)
• Bell Metal (Copper + Tin in 4:1 ratio)
• Pewter (Tin 85-99% + 5-10% + copper + bismuth + silver)
Metal “Wants” to become Dirt
ENERGY

ORE
METAL
Electrochemical Series
Standard Electrode Potential -- Electrochemical series

Reduction potential
Reducing power
Reactivity

The measure of tendency of a metallic electrode to lose or gain electrons when it is


contact with a solution of its own salt of unit molar concentration at 25oC is known as
standard electrode potential.
Galvanic cell or Voltaic Cell
Tarnishing of Silver
Tarnishing of silver
• Silver and silver-plated objects react with sulfur and sulfur compounds to produce silver sulfide
(Ag2S), or tarnish.
• Contact with materials that contain sulfur compounds, such as hardboiled eggs, mayonnaise,
mustard, and rubber bands can cause tarnish.
• In air, a silver object can tarnish owing to the reaction of silver with hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
Dancing Girl, Mohenjodarao (National Museum,
New Delhi
Chola Bronzes
Oxide layer on bronze = Blackish
patina
Malachite =
Greenish patina on
bronze (Carbonate
layer)
Malachite and Azurite formation

Malachite Azurite
Bronze Disease
Bronze Disease = Copper chloride
(Atacamite and Nantokite)

Cucl2+H2O → 2HCl + Cu2O 

2HCl + 2Cu → 2CuCl + H2 

A basic representation of the


chemical process.
q
Bronze Disease
The first step in the electrochemical corrosion of copper and copper
alloys is the production of cuprous ions.

These, in turn, combine with the chloride in the sea water to form
cuprous chloride as a major component of the corrosion layer

Cuprous chlorides are very unstable mineral compounds.


 cuprous chlorides in the presence of moisture and oxygen
are hydrolyzed to form hydrochloric acid and basic cupric
chloride

The hydrochloric acid in turn attacks the uncorroded metal to


form more cuprous chloride

The reactions continue until no metal remains. This chemical


corrosion process is commonly referred to as 'bronze disease.
Iron –Pillar –Qutub Minar, Delhi
Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (375-414 CE)
Iron –Pillar –Qutub Minar, Delhi
Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (375-414 CE)

The most critical corrosion-resistance


agent is iron hydrogen phosphate
hydrate (FePO4-H3PO4-4H2O) under
its crystalline form and building up as
a thin layer next to the interface
between metal and rust.
Stainless Steel objects
Iron + Chromium
(min of 10.5 % +
carbon (less than
1.2 %)

Chromium
imparts corrosion
resistance by
forming
chromium oxide
layer)
Bidriware
Bidriware
Bidriware is a metal
handicraft from Bidar,
Karnataka.

It was developed in the 14th


century C.E. during the rule
of the Bahamani Sultans.

An alloy of Copper and Zinc


in 1:16 ratio.

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