Understanding the corrosion mechanism of iron artifacts using Mössbauer spectroscopy

Abstract Iron artifacts undergo complex corrosion processes, depending on the burial environment. Understanding the formation mechanism of corrosion products is crucial for preservation of artifacts and helps design strategies for future iron artifacts protection. Mössbauer spectroscopy was primaril...

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Main Authors: Hyunkyung Choi, Min Su Han, Nam-Chul Cho, Heewon Hwang, Gwang Min Sun, Young Rang Uhm
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95196-3
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author Hyunkyung Choi
Min Su Han
Nam-Chul Cho
Heewon Hwang
Gwang Min Sun
Young Rang Uhm
author_facet Hyunkyung Choi
Min Su Han
Nam-Chul Cho
Heewon Hwang
Gwang Min Sun
Young Rang Uhm
author_sort Hyunkyung Choi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Iron artifacts undergo complex corrosion processes, depending on the burial environment. Understanding the formation mechanism of corrosion products is crucial for preservation of artifacts and helps design strategies for future iron artifacts protection. Mössbauer spectroscopy was primarily utilized in this work to analyze the corrosion products formed on iron artifacts. The corrosion products were identified as consisting of goethite, lepidocrocite, magnetite, and maghemite. Low-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy was performed for the accurate identification and quantitative analysis of superparamagnetic iron corrosion products. The results indicated that the surface corrosion products mainly consist of goethite and superparamagnetic goethite, with small amounts of lepidocrocite, magnetite, and/or maghemite. A cross-sectional analysis of the corrosion layers on an artifact was performed to better understand the corrosion products and their formation mechanisms. The products formed in different sections (metal, intermediate, and surface) of the corrosion layers on the iron artifact were identified, and a corrosion mechanism was proposed. The intermediate layer adjacent to the metal contains magnetite, maghemite, and lepidocrocite. The results presented in this study provide a deeper understanding of the iron corrosion process, laying a solid foundation for the development of an effective strategy for preserving iron artifacts.
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spelling doaj-art-b3bb0675cfc049699f280d071df060072025-08-20T01:47:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-95196-3Understanding the corrosion mechanism of iron artifacts using Mössbauer spectroscopyHyunkyung Choi0Min Su Han1Nam-Chul Cho2Heewon Hwang3Gwang Min Sun4Young Rang Uhm5HANARO Utilization Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research InstituteDepartment of Heritage Science and Technology Studies, Graduate School of Cultural Heritage, Korea National University of HeritageDepartment of Cultural Heritage Conservation Science, Kongju National UniversityDepartment of Cultural Heritage Conservation Science, Kongju National UniversityHANARO Utilization Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research InstituteHANARO Utilization Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research InstituteAbstract Iron artifacts undergo complex corrosion processes, depending on the burial environment. Understanding the formation mechanism of corrosion products is crucial for preservation of artifacts and helps design strategies for future iron artifacts protection. Mössbauer spectroscopy was primarily utilized in this work to analyze the corrosion products formed on iron artifacts. The corrosion products were identified as consisting of goethite, lepidocrocite, magnetite, and maghemite. Low-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy was performed for the accurate identification and quantitative analysis of superparamagnetic iron corrosion products. The results indicated that the surface corrosion products mainly consist of goethite and superparamagnetic goethite, with small amounts of lepidocrocite, magnetite, and/or maghemite. A cross-sectional analysis of the corrosion layers on an artifact was performed to better understand the corrosion products and their formation mechanisms. The products formed in different sections (metal, intermediate, and surface) of the corrosion layers on the iron artifact were identified, and a corrosion mechanism was proposed. The intermediate layer adjacent to the metal contains magnetite, maghemite, and lepidocrocite. The results presented in this study provide a deeper understanding of the iron corrosion process, laying a solid foundation for the development of an effective strategy for preserving iron artifacts.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95196-3Iron artifactsCorrosion productsRaman spectroscopyIron oxideIron oxyhydroxideMössbauer spectroscopy
spellingShingle Hyunkyung Choi
Min Su Han
Nam-Chul Cho
Heewon Hwang
Gwang Min Sun
Young Rang Uhm
Understanding the corrosion mechanism of iron artifacts using Mössbauer spectroscopy
Scientific Reports
Iron artifacts
Corrosion products
Raman spectroscopy
Iron oxide
Iron oxyhydroxide
Mössbauer spectroscopy
title Understanding the corrosion mechanism of iron artifacts using Mössbauer spectroscopy
title_full Understanding the corrosion mechanism of iron artifacts using Mössbauer spectroscopy
title_fullStr Understanding the corrosion mechanism of iron artifacts using Mössbauer spectroscopy
title_full_unstemmed Understanding the corrosion mechanism of iron artifacts using Mössbauer spectroscopy
title_short Understanding the corrosion mechanism of iron artifacts using Mössbauer spectroscopy
title_sort understanding the corrosion mechanism of iron artifacts using mossbauer spectroscopy
topic Iron artifacts
Corrosion products
Raman spectroscopy
Iron oxide
Iron oxyhydroxide
Mössbauer spectroscopy
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95196-3
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