Seminars and Workshops
Seminars and Workshops
This internship was part time and fully remote.
Archaeological Glass Corrosion
Can micro chemical spot testing accurately identify composition of glass corrosion?
Presented at ICOM-CC Glass and Ceramic Working Group Interim Meeting and Icon Ceramics and Glass Conference. London, September 2019.
Co-authors: Marie Desrochers (WUDPAC Class of 2021) and Dr. Rosie Grayburn (Associate Scientist and Lab Manager, Department of Conservation Winterthur Museum)
Background
Archaeological glass offers unique challenges for analysis because of its complex laminar structure, a degraded surface that is chemically distinct from the bulk glass. This project assessed the viability of microchemical spot testing as a method for analyzing the composition of glass corrosion.
"Testing the test" expands our understanding of existing tools and their application.
Analysis
We compared results of a spot test for calcium to elemental point analysis and mapping with X-ray fluorescence.
Conclusion
The microchemical spot test for calcium may not be sensitive enough to detect the trace amounts of calcium in archeological glass corrosion.