title: Investigation on a Roman copper alloy artefact from Pompeii (Italy).
abstract: A selection of samples, obtained from a particular copper-alloy domestic artefact of Roman style from Pompeii, has been analysed by using different techniques (IR, Raman, SEM-EDX, FAAS), in order to investigate the chemical nature and composition of the metals utilised for such manufacturing pieces. The surface analysis of the bright red metallic microfragments conducted by different analytical techniques, emphasises the presence of pure unalloyed copper and confirms the absence of other metallic species on the upper layers. On the contrary, the mapping analysis of the section of the laminar metal of the investigated sample shows a consistent enrichment in tin content. Finally, destructive analysis by FAAS confirms that the artefact looks like a bronze metal alloy, with a medium Sn content of about 6.5%.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 183, 41100, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baraldi
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baraldi
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foca
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tassi
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D007558:Italy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D003300:Copper