Erratum to the Influence of Gaseous Pollutants on Silver Artifacts Tarnishing, Vol. 6 (2017), 135-148 ()
The original online version of this article Salem, Y. (2017) The Influence of Gaseous Pollutants on Silver Artifacts Tarnishing. Open Journal of Air Pollution, 6, 135-148. doi: 10.4236/ojap.2017.64011 unfortunately contains grammar mistakes. The author wishes to correct the errors.

1. Introduction
Archaeological silver and its alloys have relatively high resistance against atmospheric environment corrosion compared to copper and iron objects. Nevertheless, silver is susceptible to tarnish and corrosion in the atmospheric environment especially in the presence of sulphur containing pollutants and humidity. Many corrosion products such as Ag2S, Ag2SO4, and AgCl have been identified on silver objects whether in museum environment (displayed in showcases and stored in cabinets) or excavated from the burial environment. Silver objects corrosion in the atmospheric environment attributes to the reaction with the gaseous pollutants such as chloride anions, sulfates, carbonates, and sulfides that lead to the metal dissolution [1].
Among the family of ancient metals, silver has received the fewest number of studies related to the laboratory and field exposure of the gaseous pollutants. Previous laboratory exposure tests have often focused on silver tarnish with sulfur-containing pollutants [2] - [7]. These studies were in agreement with their results which confirmed the formation of silver tarnish as a black layer of Ag2S as a main corrosion product and Ag2SO4 in a negligible quantity. Few laboratory studies have included the effect of other gaseous pollutants such as Cl, NO2, and CO2, whereas the results were different and varied. The differences were as follow:
· Results of previous studies indicated that nitrogen dioxide is not considered a corrosion factor for silver and does not react with it [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]. Conversely, a previous study identified silver nitrate Ag2NO3 as corrosion products on exposed silver to 1.2 ppm NO2 for 40 hours [2].
· Ag2SO4 as corrosion product was detected on silver coupons exposed to outdoor environment [13] , although some studies indicated that silver sulfate (Ag2SO4) forms only in artificially high levels of sulfur dioxide [14] [15].
· Silver is sensitive to chloride and chlorine, and silver chloride is formed as a result of the reaction [10] [11] [12] [15] [16] [17]. On the other hand, a study revealed that silver chloride product was not identified on silver coupons after the exposure to an ASTM B117 salt spray chamber [18]. other previous studies mentioned that silver does not react directly with chlorine gas and the presence of silver chloride as a corrosion product is due to burial in a chloride-enriched environment [19] [20].
· Laboratory studies of the effect of CO2 gas on silver artifacts are very few. although CO2 is found as natural constituent and artificial pollutant in the atmospheric environment surrounding of silver artifacts. Ag2CO3 is distinguished as corrosion product of silver as result of the reaction with CO2. the formation mechanism of Ag2CO3 depends on the presence of strong alkaline solutions [21]. Ag2CO3 product has not been detected as corrosion product on the silver artifacts, whereas it was identified in a recent study on the silver coupons exposed to various outdoor environments and this product was detected only in one site distinguished as frozen desert environment [1].
The current study, the effect of H2S, SO2, NO2, Cl, and CO2 on silver was presented as a laboratory study and the results were compared with previous studies. NO2, Cl, and CO2 gases did not undergo sufficient laboratory studies to evaluate their effect on the silver artifacts although they were common gaseous pollutants in outdoor and indoor atmospheric environments. Hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide were tested as they are the main gases in tarnishing process of silver and lead to a silver sulfide product which is distinguished as a predominant corrosion product of silver artifacts.
2. Experimental Procedures
2.1. Coupons Preparation
Silver coupons should be similar to archaeological silver of ancient Egypt civilization. Various chemical compositions were found in Ancient Egyptian Silver. The elemental analysis of a number of Egyptian silver artefacts showed that the concentration of silver was between 83% to 90% of 10 objects and between 90% to 95% of 19 other objects [22] [23]. Also analyses of Babylonian coins from a silver copper alloy were about 87% - 90% purity [21]. Therefore, the chemical composition of the experimental coupons was Ag 89.4% and Cu 10.5%. This concentration was not artificially available and was obtained by alloying a mixture of silver (pieces from the pure silver) and pure copper pieces. This mixture was melted in a crucible and then poured into a rectangular mold. The thick rectangular rod was obtained after solidification. Therefore, successive processes of annealing and drawing on a metal rolling machine were performed to obtain thin thickness about 0.8 mm (Figure 1) [24]. The dimensions were 3 cm × 5 cm × 0.08 cm and all coupons were holed for hanging in the test chamber, Figure 2. XRF analysis was used to determine the chemical composition. Five coupons were used for each test of gas.
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Figure 1. The preparation of silver coupons: (a) pure silver pieces, (b) the shape of the resulting rod after casting and (c) cutting the coupons after drawing and hammering processes.
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Figure 2. Silver alloy coupons before the tests.
Thin thickness of the coupons about 0.8 m will be suitable and similar to silver artifacts thickness. many silver artefacts were manufactured from sheets whether thick or thin such as slippers, crowns, thin sheets for royal garments, hollow statues, horse saddles items, jewellery items, funeral items, cosmetic items, and Household items of daily life including spoons, jugs, cups, vessels, pots, covered wooden object, and bowls [21].
2.2. Design and Preparation of Climate Chamber
The Climate chamber was designed according to ASTM [25]. It is made of glass with dimensions of 1 cubic meter.
Humidity inside the chamber was controlled gradually by a cup of saturated salt solution. Approximately 85% RH was obtained with a saturated solution of potassium chloride [26] and the chamber was only opened to remove the coupons. A cartridge heater was placed inside the room to heat the air if necessary. The air inside the chamber was distributed by a fan, which was hanged from the ceiling of the chamber. The temperature and relative humidity inside the chamber are continuously measured by a data logger device [27] [28]. Few studies were presented on the silver deterioration tests inside climate chamber, these studies used two types of the deterioration factors: high relative humidity [10] [29] or gaseous pollutants in the presence of high relative humidity [2] [25] [29]. Most studies of silver deterioration were carried out with corrosive solutions as deterioration factors, such as BaS 5 g/l solution for 24 hours [18] , and Na2S that was used as tarnish solution [30] [31]. Acetic acid solutions were used as simulation of emissions vapors in wooden cabinets. CuCl2 50 g/l for 20 min and NaCl [29] were used for AgCl patina [19].
2.3. The Test Gases
The studied gases were as follows: sulfur dioxide SO2, nitrogen dioxide NO2, carbon dioxide CO2, chlorine gas Cl and hydrogen sulfide H2S. The gas was mixed with the air inside chamber. Those gas types are the most effective in the deterioration of silver artefacts.
2.4. Test Procedures
Five coupons were exposed to humidified air (85%) containing a concentration of 10 ppm for each gas. The procedures for each test were as shown in Table 1. The test period and proportion of relative humidity, temperature, and gas concentration were chosen after a survey of such previous studies concerning ancient metals family (copper, bronze, silver, steel and lead) as shown in Table 2. Most tests shown in Table 2 were performed at room temperature (22˚C - 5˚C)
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Table 1. Conditions and procedures of the tests.
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Table 2. Summarizes the laboratory exposure conditions for gaseous pollutants with ancient metals in previous studies.
and relative humidity between 80 - 90, whereas the gases concentration and the exposure period were various.
Cylinders with 99% concentration were used to obtain CO2, SO2 and NO2 gases. The gas has flowed from cylinder into the exposure chamber after the calculation of the flow and time of the required concentration. H2S and Cl− were prepared in lab, H2S was prepared by the reaction of hydrochloric acid with ferrous sulfide (Equation (1)) [51] and Cl− prepared by the reaction of concentrated hydrochloric acid with manganese dioxide (Equation (2)) [52]. For the required concentration of H2S and Cl, it was obtained according to the molar volume of this concentration inside the test chamber. According to the law of Avogadro and Lussac, The molar volume occupied by the required concentration (10 ppm) inside the chamber can be calculated, Where molecular weight (one mole) of any gas under standard conditions occupies 22,400 ml (molar volume), Equation (3)) [53] , Based on the molecular weight of H2S Equation (4) which occupies 22,400 ml, the volume molar of H2S can be calculated Equation (5).
(1)
(2)
1 mole of a gas at STP = 22.4 liters of a gas (3)
2 X 1 + 32 = 34 g = 22400 ml (4)
10 ppm (19 mg/m3) = X (5)
Gas syringe was used to obtain the required volume and inject its into inside the chamber Figure 3 and a small fan was used to distribute the gas inside the chamber.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Examination of the Samples after the Test
All coupons reacted with the gases from the first week, except the exposed coupons to carbon dioxide. The reaction behavior inside the chamber and the growth rate of the tarnish layer were similar among Cl, H2S, and NO2. The reaction began as a very thin tarnish layer on the surface. The surface appearance of the coupons converted to dark gray then black film, finally. The tarnish layers of H2S and Cl were heavy, whereas were slight with SO2, NO2 as shown in Figure 4.
The coupons were examined after each test by visual examination, polarizing microscope, and scanning electron microscope to observe the formed tarnish
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Figure 3. The syringe and the method for taking the required volume of the gas resulting from the reaction.
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Figure 4. The coupons after the tests: (a) H2S coupons, (b) Cl coupons, (c) SO2 coupons, (d) NO2 coupons and (e) CO2 coupons.
layer and evaluate the reaction between the coupons surface and the test gases. The investigation results revealed that the thickness, density and coverage of the formed tarnish layer on the surface were differed among the coupons as shown in Figure 5. H2S coupons showed heavy tarnish layer and complete coverage of the surface. Moreover, H2S caused pitting on the coupons surface. Cl coupons were completely covered by a uniform dense layer of silver tarnish. CO2 coupons revealed very weak effect of the gas. A slight tarnish layer with green spots was
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Figure 5. Investigation by SEM and polarizing microscope ×500 show the most important characteristics of tarnish layer on the surface such as H2S coupons are covered by dense tarnish layer (a1)-(a5); Cl coupons reveal a uniform and thick tarnish layer (b1)-(b5); CO2 coupons reveal very weak effect of the gas (c1)-(c5); SO2 coupons reveal the crystal structure of product of tarnish (d1)-(d5); Green spots on the surface of NO2 coupons (e1)-(e5).
observed on the surface of NO2 and SO2 coupons and the reaction was very slow [35].
3.2. The Analysis of Corrosion Products by X-Ray Diffraction and Raman Spectroscopy
The coupons were exposed to X-ray diffraction to analyze the formed tarnish layer.
XRD results showed many of the corrosion products as shown in Figure 6 and Table 3. The Raman spectrum of the tarnish formed of H2S gas showed four intensive bands in the range of 80 - 274 cm−1. The bands related to silver lattice vibrations were shown at 93 and 147 cm−1, the others can be assigned to Ag-S-Ag symmetric stretching mode in particular at 93, 188 and 243 cm−1 with a shoulder at 273 cm−1 [54]. The Raman spectrum confirmed XRD result because the bands revealed acanthite product Figure 7(a).
The Raman spectrum of Cl gas coupon showed a sharp and high intensive band at 236 cm−1 and two weak bands at 145 and 349 cm−1 Figure 7(b). These beaks are in agreement with the main beaks of AgCl bands, as reported in ref.
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Table 3. Corrosion products on the coupons after the test.
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Figure 6. XRD patterns of tarnish layers on the coupons: (a) H2S, (b) Cl, (c) CO2, (d) SO2 and (e) NO2.
[54]. The tarnish layer of other gas coupons was so slight that it was not identified by Raman.
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Figure 7. Raman spectrum of tarnishing of H2S (a)and Cl (b).
Silver sulfide (Ag2S acanthite) is predominant product of silver artifacts and it often forms as a result of the reaction between gas H2S and the silver surface, as shown in Equations (6) and (7).
[55] [56] (6)
[5] (7)
Silver chloride (AgCl Cerargyrite, chlorargyrite): the prevailing theory interpreting the formation mechanism of chloroargyrite AgCl is the transformation of Ag2O to AgCl as shown in Equation (8) [13] [14]
[13] (8)
Silver sulfite (Ag2SO4): This product was identified in a previous study as a corrosion product of silver [1]. The Equations (9)-(12) were suggested for the formation mechanism of Ag2SO4 on the coupons surface.
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
Silver oxide Ag2O: Silver artifacts react with oxygen whether by the electrochemical reactions in the presence of humidity (Equations (13)-(15)) or in the absence of humidity (Equation (16)). Therefore, Ag2O and AgO are often formed on silver artifacts surfaces.
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
Silver ammine nitrate (Ag(NO3)3(NO)3): a previous laboratory study of silver coupons exposed to NO2 gas identified Ag2NO3 product as a corrosion product of silver from nitrates anions [2] , Therefore, Ag2NO3 was expected to be a corrosion product of the tarnish layer of NO2 gas, whereas analysis showed a Silver ammine nitrate product (Ag(NO3)3(NO)3).
Copper Nitrate Hydroxide (Rouaite, Cu2(NO3)(OH)3): Silver and copper are the coupons alloy elements. The formation of rouaite corrosion product is contributed to selective corrosion of copper by the reaction of with NO2 gas.
4. Conclusions
In atmospheric environment, the silver artifacts are susceptible to the reaction with several air pollutants and a black tarnish layer is formed on a surface. The tarnish layer is heavily formed in the presence of sulfur containing pollutants and other gaseous such as Cl and NO2.
Except for the CO2 coupons, all tested gas coupons showed a tarnish layer which was formed on the surface as a blackish tarnish layer. The coupons of H2S and Cl showed a sever tarnish layer, whereas the coupons of SO2 and NO2 showed slight tarnish layer. The XRD analysis revealed several corrosion products and Raman confirmed the identification Ag2S and AgCl.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Dr. Mai Rifai Con. Dep. Arch. Fac. Cai. Uni, for all assistance and support, Thanks also need to go to Dr. Adel Abdelkader Chem. Dep. Sci. Fac. Sou. Val. Uni. and prof. A. A. Shakour, Air Pollution Department, National Research Center, Egypt, for their helpful to adjust the gases concentration inside the chamber test.
Founding
This research was founded by South Valley University (Egypt).