Application of modified tafel analysis to the identification of corrosion products on archaeological metals using voltammetry of microparticles

Abstract

An operational modification of Tafel analysis, applied to the intermediate region of square wave voltammetric curves, devoted to the identification of corrosion products on archaeological metal, is described. This is based on the voltammetry of microparticles methodology using conventional abrasive conditioning of the electrode, as well as 'one-touch' and layer-by-layer techniques. The proposed methodology is applied to the identification of copper and silver corrosion products in mediaeval silver-copper coins from the Libertad street hoard in Valencia (Spain). © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.