33830
Accession Number
32743
Title Of Article Chaper
The preservation of iron cannon after 200 years under the sea
Title Of Journal Book
Studies in conservation
Volume
17
Issue
3
Pages
91-110
Language Of Text
English
Language Of Summary
French;German;Italian;Spanish
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
In 1770 Lieutenant James Cook who discovered the east coast of Australia had to jettison iron cannon and carriages along with iron and stone ballast when the Endeavour struck a coral reef. These relics were recovered in 1969 and their condition and properties after almost 200 years under the sea are discussed. The treatments used to stabilize the iron cannon and carriage remains are then detailed. These include electrolytic reduction followed by washing in inhibited distilled water before a final wax impregnation, also treatment in an activated molten caustic soda bath followed by heat treatment before wax impregnation. The historical aspects of the relics with regard to their authentication are also mentioned.
Keywords
Cannon, conservation; iron, cleaning electrolytic; iron, chloride stabilization removal; iron, corrosion; iron, cast; iron, metallography; artifact, iron examination; iron, cleaning; archaeology, underwater conservation iron; iron, reduction; stone, conservation; metal, radiography; wood, conservation archaeology; wax, microcrystalline; iron, protection impregnation; iron, protection corrosion inhibitor; ICCROM
pub_id
33830