Chemical and metallurgical aspects of arsenical bronze: the case of arsenic-loss in prehistoric metal production

Objective

The main goal of this project is to investigate out-of-equilibrium Cu-As alloys, i.e. 0-10 wt.% As in the range used in the transition period between Stone and Metal ages. The research protocol is made of several steps: equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium phase diagrams in the above mentioned range, evaluation of mechanical properties of Cu-As alloys in the most common metallurgical states (as-cast, annealed, cold-hardened, recrystallized), and estimation of the loss of As during metallurgical transformations (melting/casting, homogenisation and recrystallisation annealing) according to the number of iterations and of the treatment temperature and dwell time. The fulfilment of these objectives is of high importance for materials science applied to archaeology dealing with development and usage of this very first alloy produced by human kind.
The applicant will acquire and share with the scientific community new knowledge in the production, thermomechanical treatment and consequent properties of the misknown arsenical bronzes. She will use her metallurgical experience and archaeological knowledge (both matured in the field of tin-bronzes) applied to production, treatment and analyses of arsenical bronze. The additional knowledge the applicant will obtain within the project is related to the domain of phase diagrams creation and the usage of DTA, DSC and XRPD, under the supervision of experienced researchers from inorganic chemistry and metallurgy.
The project as a whole will provide for the first time:
1) out-of-equilibrium phase diagrams for the Cu-As system
2) determination of chemical, physical and mechanical properties of arsenical bronze in the range of 0-10 wt.% arsenic
3) a comprehensive overview on the actual loss of arsenic during metallurgical transformations.
The proposed project constitutes an excellent career-springboard for the applicant, being then the sole expert on the usage of arsenical bronze in the field of European archaeometallurgy.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › materials engineering › metallurgy
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › inorganic chemistry › metalloids
• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › waste management › waste treatment processes › recycling
• humanities › history and archaeology › archaeology › archaeometry
• engineering and technology › materials engineering › colors

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility

Topic(s)

• MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF)

Call for proposal

H2020-MSCA-IF-2014
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

Coordinator

UNIVERSITE BORDEAUX MONTAIGNE

Address

Esplanade Des Antilles Domaine Universitaire
33607 Pessac Cedex
France

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 185 076