• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.439-442
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• 2007

A solid state Hg(Au)/HgO reference electrode was prepared utilizing gold amalgam solid particles. Solid fine powder of the gold amalgam was prepared by chemical reduction of Au(III) with NaBH4 followed by reduction of Hg(II) in the presence of gold fine particles. The solid content in the suspension of the gold amalgam particles and fine mercury oxide particles in DMF containing PVC was precipitated by the addition of a large amount of water to give solid Hg(Au)/HgO/PVC mixture. After drying, the mixture was pressure-molded to a physically stable Hg(Au)/HgO composite reference electrode material. The electrochemical characteristics of the electrode as a reference electrode were very similar to an ordinary Hg/HgO reference electrode. The electrode material can be molded and fabricated in any desired shape and size. The surface can be renewed by a simple polishing process whenever contaminated or deactivated. The applicability of the electrode in the electrochemical detection of carbohydrates after anion exchange separation was evaluated.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.107-120
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• 2017

This research involves a gilding experiment using plum acid that has previously been reported to restore Geumdongsamjonpanbul excavated from Wolji, Gyeongju. Chromaticity analysis revealed that the yellowness of the samples was high, and the samples treated with acid for more than 10 minutes showed high brightness. SEM studies revealed that the sample subjected to amalgam application and immediate heating was rarely gilded with gold. When the amalgam application time was longer than 36 h, the gold layer observed was uneven. Therefore, the optimum amalgam application time was 12-24 h. EDS analysis showed that mercury content was ~5 wt.% for samples with an acid treatment time of 20 min, lower than that in other samples. Gold gilding was successful for the sample with amalgam application time of 24 h and acid treatment time of 20 min. This sample showed the high-resolution XPS peak corresponding to Au and retains a little Hg compared with the other samples. In other words, experimental and analytical results using plum acid showed that gilding was successful when acid treatment time was 20 min and amalgam application time was 24 h. Based on these results, Geumdongsamjonpanbul excavated from Wolji, Gyeongju can be restored.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2012

This study discusses a mercury amalgam gilding technique and examines how the color, surface and section of the gilt layer changes as the condition of heat treatment with mercury amalgam gilt object is changed. Some previous studies have mentioned reasons for various colors on gilt bronze artifacts depending on gilding manufacture and environment. However, reason for reddish color with gold on the artifacts' surface brought on high temperature corrosion has yet to be discussed and analyzed. A methodology was found in representing the mercury amalgam gilding technique and heat treatment test. According to the result of the heat treatment test, in the conditions of higher temperature and longer time, the oxidized layer on the gilt layer was distributed more widely and in the part when the oxide layer was eliminated, the gilt layer with a reddish color was observed. Moreover, in the surface observation of the specimen on which yellow and reddish colors were agitated, the changing aspects of its surface condition differed by colors. When investigated the section, it was observed that the void density and size became larger. After a test, the surface components changed; the temperature of heat treatment increased, component ratio of Hg and Au decreased gradually but component ratio of Cu increased. In regard to the gilt layer, as the time was longer and the temperature became higher for the heat treatment, the component ratio of Au and Cu by layers tended to change in inverse proportion. It is concluded that gilding techniques and the burial environment can make a difference in the surface color of the gilt layer on the gilt bronze artifacts, the high temperature corrosion that occurs by heat after they are manufactured is also one of the factors that affects their surface color.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.23
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• pp.1-16
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• 2020

In this paper, Gilt-bronze Standing Avaolkiteshvara (National Treasure No. 293, M355) excavated at Gyuam-ri in Buyeo was observed with a microscope to identify the production technique applied to it. It was also analyzed with XRF and hard X-ray to identify the composition and the surface treatment techniques and casting method applied. In this statue, Avalokiteshvara is standing upright on a lotus pedestal. The lotus designs on the pedestal and those on the shawl flowing down on both sides of the statue are characteristic of Buddhist statues from the seventh century or later. The use of supports to affix the outer and inner molds and traces of injected cast were observed in the interior of the pedestal. The blisters on the arms and pedestal created during the bronze casting indicate the use of lost-wax casting, which was popularly employed for the production of mid- or small-sized gilt-bronze Buddhist statues in ancient times. The composition analysis identified a copper-tin-lead ternary alloy in the interior of the statue that was conventional used in the sixth and seventh centuries. It is likely that this simple alloy was used to facilitate casting and produce clearer expressions of designs and ornaments on the statue. Mercury (Hg) was detected on the surface of the statue, indicating the use of amalgam-plating with gold (Au) dissolved in mercury. This plating method is a common surface treatment technique used for small gilt-bronze statutes in ancient Korea.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.4-17
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• 2021

This study analyzed 19 samples of harness fittings and pendants, which were excavated in Tomb No. 15 in Songhyeon-dong, Changnyeong. Harness fittings and pendants are used for ostentation, rather than practicality, and were excavated from ancient tombs in Gaya culture. So, they are considered artifacts that compare the production techniques and raw materials. This study aimed to examine the production techniques and provenience studies of Bihwa Gaya, which is estimated to be from the 5th to 6th centuries. According to the research, harness fittings were made of pure copper and were gilded with Au·Ag alloys on their surfaces. Hg was detected together and plated with a mercury amalgam method. As a result of the pendant (fish scales-pattern, oval and fish-tail shape), analysis showed that Fe in the background metal, Cu in the middle layer, and Au and Ag on the surface were the main components. The method of adhesion between Cu and Au·Ag gilded layers are plated by a mercury amalgamation method. So, it was identified by the gilt-iron·gold·bronze technique. Since the pendant (heart shaped) is found to be the main component of Fe in the background metal and Ag in the surface layer, the metal was made gilt-iron·silver technique. The background metal and gilding were additionally fixed using a rivet. The raw materials of 3 harnesses excavated from Changnyeong are plotted in zone 2 in the southern Korean Peninsula. And 16 harnesses were plotted in Chinese copper ore by Mabuchi Hishao in the Chinese Peninsula.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.6-6
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• 2018

본 연구에서는 고문헌에 기록된 도금 재료와 도금법 등을 확인하고 이를 기초자료로 활용하여 매실산을 사용한 금(Au)-수은(Hg) 아말감기법으로 고대 도금(鍍金)기술을 되살리고, 이를 토대로 경주 월지에서 출토된 금동삼존판불을 복원하였다. 먼저, 전통 도금법을 되살리기 위해서, "오주서종박물고변", "확지신편", 조선시대 각종 의궤 등에 공통적으로 기록되어 있는 매실에 주목하고, 매실을 3~4개월 발효 숙성 후 착즙한 뒤 그것을 농축하여 만든 매실산을 도금 실험에 적용하였다. 금아말감 도금을 위하여 월지 출토 금동삼존판불의 바탕소지금속인 청동삼존판불을 구리와 주석 89:11(Cu:6kg, Su:750g)로 합금하여 주물사 주조법으로 복원하였으며, 동일한 합금비로 제작된 $2.3cm{\times}3.5cm$(가로${\times}$세로)의 시편에 사전 실험을 실시하였다. 현대적 산처리 방식에 사용되는 질산과 전통방식으로 사용되는 매실산으로 시편에 산처리 한 후 각각 비교해 보고, 금분과 금박, 상온과 가온에 따른 아말감상태를 비교하는 실험을 진행하였는데, 실험에 사용된 매실산 70%는 pH가 1.94로, 오늘날 산처리에 사용하고 있는 질산 20%와는 차이가 있지만, 청동 시편 실험을 통해 매실산에 20분 정도 담근 뒤 금아말감을 도포 후 24시간 지나 가열($380{\sim}400^{\circ}C$) 했을 때 금도금이 잘 되어, 현대적 방법인 질산처리로 도금을 한 시편과 큰 차이가 없는 것으로 관찰되었다. 사전 실험을 통한 결과를 적용한 월지 출토 금동삼존판불 복원은 청동삼존판불 표면처리, 금-수은 합금 및 도금하기, 도금 후 표면처리의 순서로 진행되었는데, 금과 소지금속의 밀착력을 높이기 위해 표면을 숯을 이용해 탈지한 후 물로 씻어내고 매실산을 도포하여 20분 동안 두어 부식 및 세척을 시행하였다. 금도금을 위한 금-수은아말감은 가온할 때 수은이 증발하는 양을 고려하여 금1 : 수은10 비율로 합금하여 완성하였으며, 금아말감 도포 후 약 24시간 지난 다음, $380{\sim}400^{\circ}C$에 가열하여 수은을 기화시켜 도금작업을 완성하였다. 금아말감도금은 평균적으로 6~7차례 시행하여야 완벽히 도금되지만, 본 연구에서는 단 4차례의 도금만으로 금아말감도금을 완성시켰는데, 이것은 금아말감을 바탕소지인 청동에 도포한 후 24시간 동안 금아말감과 청동과의 반응 시간을 두게한 것이 큰 역할을 한 것으로 보이며, 이는 청동시편을 이용한 실험과 과학적 분석을 통하여 입증하였다. SEM으로 표면을 관찰한 결과 아말감 도포시간이 즉시인 경우 도금이 거의 되지 않은 것을 확인할 수 있었고 36시간이 넘어갈 경우 금 도금층이 불균일하게 관찰되었으므로 도금시간은 12시간~24시간 이내가 적절함을 확인할 수 있었다. EDS로 성분을 분석한 결과 산처리 시간이 20분인 시료의 경우 5 wt% 내외로 수은의 비율이 다른 시료에 비해 낮은 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 실험 및 분석결과 산처리 시간이 20분이고 아말감 도포시간이 24시간일 때 도금이 잘 이루어지므로 이 결과를 토대로 금동삼존판불을 복원하였다. 이번 연구를 통해 도금법에 표면을 세척하고 부식시키기 위해 사용한 물질이 매실산임을 찾아내어 확인할 수 있었는데, 이러한 점 에서 이 연구의 가장 큰 의미는 전통 소재와 기술을 복원한 것으로, 앞으로 매실산을 이용한 금 도금기술은 관련 학계에도 큰 기여를 할 것으로 기대된다.