Standards and education

Christian Degrigny
Leiden, 11-15 January 2010
 Experience in training programmes

« use of electrochemical techniques in

conservation »

-Originally in France: supervision of conservation and

engineering students (EDF-Valectra, ART-Métal,
Arc’Antique)
-Finland (Master dedicated to marine artefacts): 2001
-Switzerland
-Summer school: 2004
-Training to master students: since 2008
-Norway (Oslo): master students since 2007
-USA: EAS2006: workshop for professionals: 2006
-Malta (MCR & Heritage Malta): 2003-2005
-Netherlands: ICN and University of Amsterdam since
2000

Leiden, 11-15 January 2010

 Objectives

-Introduction to electrochemical parameters

-Application of these parameters to the
conservation of CH artefacts
-Lectures / practicals (50/50%)
-Demonstration of equipments
-Discussion

Course of minimum 5 days

Leiden, 11-15 January 2010

 Course programmes
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Morning •Objectives of Following of Pract 2 L4: reactions of L5: Understanding Pract 8: Use of
sessions the course + review of past polarized metals in electrochemical sacrificial anodes for
and a bit of results solutions reactions : the use of a polarization, cathodic
history… potentiostat protection, electrolytic
L3: Pourbaix
•L1 Basic pencil, mass treatments,
diagrams
principles - pulsed current
Ecorr :
Definition and
measurement
Pract 1: Pract 3: Pourbaix Pract 4: Pract 6 : Initiation to the Test 2
Measurement diagrams and use in Polarisation by use of a potentiostat
Ecorr - Meaning conservation using a current
of Ecorr generator: setting
measurement up and control of
s parameters
Lunch

Afternoon Following of Application of Pract 5: Application Pract 7 : various Application of

sessions Pract 1 electrochemical to conservation potentiostatic electrochemical
techniques in issues (reduction of measurements: cathodic techniques in
conservation: tarnish on copper, curves, identification of conservation:
presentation I silver and reduction peaks, influence of the presentation II
of lead corrosion different influences…
L2: Conclusion –
products)
Parameters Discussion -
affecting Ecorr Questions
Pract 2: Test 1
Parameters
affecting Ecorr
Leiden, 11-15 January 2010
 Day 1
Introduction to the principles and the electrochemical
parameters: Ecorr (meaning, measurement,
reproducibility)
200

0 Cu

-200

Ecorr (mV/ESH)
-400
Pb
-600
Sesquicarbonate de sodium 1%, pH=9,5
-800

-1000
Al
-1200

-1400
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Temps (minutes)

Monitoring vs time, effect of the alloying elements, the

oxyded state,

Leiden, 11-15 January 2010

 Day 2

Pourbaix diagrams and their use

400
Immunité / passivation
Ag & Cu
200
Immunité / passivation
Zn
Passivation
Ecorr (mV/ESH)

-200 Fe
Corrosion
Pb
Sn
Passivation
-400
Al
Passivation

-600 Passivation
KNO3, pH=7,5
-800
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Temps (minutes)

Leiden, 11-15 January 2010

 Cu

HNO3 KNO3
SS
NaOH
Î Behaviour
expected

Leiden, 11-15 January 2010

 Al

HNO3 KNO3 SS
NaOH Î Behaviour
expected

Leiden, 11-15 January 2010

 Application I in the C-R field

-Possibilities of the « SPAMT-

Test » tool
-Choice of appropriate
solutions for storage and
stabilisation of metal artefacts

-Monitoring of the artefacts

during the immersion process

Leiden, 11-15 January 2010

 Day 3

Artificial modification of the electrochemical

parameters to clean or stabilise CH artefacts

Leiden, 11-15 January 2010

 Day 4
Introduction to the use of a potentiostat
CE
RE
PC
WE
X X
X
X
X
X
Potentiostat I (A)
X Cathode X
X X EH2 Ecp Ecorr
E (V)

Mn+ + ne- Î M

Leiden, 11-15 January 2010

2H2O + 2e- Î 2OH- + H2
 Day 5

Application II in the C-R field:

-Treatment of artefacts
-Electrolytic pen
-Cathodic protection
-Mass treatment
-Oxydation
-Other applications (pulsed
currents, composite artefacts,
analysis of metals with VMP,
EIS…)
Leiden, 11-15 January 2010
 Feedback

- The young generation of C-Rs is trained

properly all around Europe
-Training programmes for C-R professionals
have been setup

-Still only a few C-Rs are using these

techniques on a daily basis

-Need to include them in research projects as

end-users (SPAMT Test)

Leiden, 11-15 January 2010