Identification of corrosion products on non-ferrous metal artifacts recovered from shipwrecks

Identification of corrosion products on non-ferrous metal artifacts recovered from historic shipwrecks off the coast of Western Australia has provided conservators with useful information regarding the nature of the degradation processes on copper, brass, bronze, silver, lead and pewter artifacts. Analysis of the different nature of the corrosion products produced under aerobic and anaerobic micro-environments can assist the conservator to determine the most appropriate treatment. The presence of corrosion products arising from minor alloying constituents provides a useful guide to the corrosion behaviour of the parent metals.