Corrosion mechanism of ceramic glaze from the Yangtze Estuary II

Ancient lead-glazed ceramics frequently corrode physically, chemically, and biologically when buried in soil, submerged in water, or exposed to air. In comparison to the other two environments, relatively little research has been conducted on how lead-glazed ceramics deteriorate in the water environment. Four lead-glazed ceramic samples from the Yangtze Estuary II were examined for their micromorphology and structural composition using scanning electron microscopy-energy spectrum analysis, micro-area X-ray diffraction analysis, fluorescence microanalysis, and Fourier infrared spectroscopy analysis. The results demonstrate the formation of deposits of PbCO 3 , Pb(OH)Cl, and CuFeS 2 and corrosion pits and fractures on the glaze layer surfaces. According to the corrosion phenomenon, the lead glaze layers of ceramics mainly underwent chemical and microbial corrosion in water, and the corrosion process of the lead glaze was expounded and modeled. The research results deepen the understanding of the corrosion mechanism of lead-glazed ceramics, which is of great significance for the study of the conservation of lead-glazed ceramics and other types of ceramic relics and can also provide a reference for the long-term preservation of contemporary silicate products.