7. Conclusion

We can see that understanding corrosion systems formed on archaeological objects, and how they evolve, requires a different approach to that conventionally adopted for the study of systems formed over shorter periods of time. In particular, the thickness of the layers requires cross-sectional observation in order to understand their role in corrosion mechanisms. In addition, it is necessary to understand their arrangement and structure at different scales, from the macroscopic to the microscopic, sometimes down to the nanometer. To achieve this, conventional techniques need to be supplemented by more refined means of investigation (μXRD, μRaman, μXAS, MET, STXM...) and different approaches (re-corrosion in instrumented media or containing specific tracers).

The first step in the study is to gain a thorough understanding of the components of the corrosion system,...