Dear Chris,

Have a look at the University of Texas, Nautical Archaeology

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/ANTH605/File0.htm

This is Donny Hamilton's manual for conservation of many differnt
findgroups, including electrolysis on metal finds. I found it very useful.

Michiel Bartels

Archeologie Deventer
PO Box 5000
7400 GC Deventer
the Netherlands

Christopher P. Murphy schreef:

> Histarchers,
>     A chemist and his student at my university are cleaning some
> iron/steel artifacts for me using electrolysis.  They are experimenting
> with variables (amperage, electrolyte composition, etc.) which affect
> the speed (and maybe other aspects) of the reaction.  They have had good
> results so far but in his search for a standard technique or method used
> by archaeologists and archaeology lab technicians to de-rust artifacts,
> he has had no luck.
>
>     I am unable to give him any useful information on the subject.  Can
> any list members suggest useful sources of information on this topic (I
> recall something brief in Noel-Hume on the topic, but that is all).  Is
> there a standard method for cleaning up metal by electrolysis to which I
> might refer him?
>
>     Any guidance will be appreciated.
>
>     Chris