Journal of Conservation Science Vol.30 No.1 pp.95-101
은제품의 황화은 부식층 제거를 위한 Nd : YAG 레이저클리닝 실험 연구
Experimental study for removing silver sulfide from silver objects by Nd : YAG laser cleaning
Abstract
Silver objects tarnish with black from reaction with sulfurous acid or hydrogen sulfide of atmospheric. Blackening of silver objects results from formation of silver sulfide(Ag2O) on the surface. Silver sulfide usually is usually removed by conservation treatment. There are several cleaning methods such as chemical, electrochemical and micro- abrasion cleaning, but all of them consume silver. This study investigated the safe and effective parameter of laser cleaning by test on silver coupons. Laser cleaning is a selective process for the removal of specific substances. At first, laser cleaning applied to plain silver coupons, which were not corroded, to find out the safe range of laser energy density. From results, plain silver coupons were not changed at 1064nm below 4.00J/cm2 and at 532nm below 2.39J/cm2. The corrosion layer(silver sulfide) of artifical corroded silver coupons was removed at 1064nm with 2.39J/cm2 by 5~10 pulses and at 532nm with 1.19J/cm2 by 5~10 pulses. The removal thickness of corrosion layer was about 13-25nm per a laser pulse using AES analysis. In addition, laser cleaning tested the tarnish silver rings based on the results of silver coupons. As a result of test, the black surface were clean successfully and gave luster of silver, which showed the application possibility of laser cleaning for silver objects.