Long-term electrochemical and biological study of archaeological iron-wood composite impregnated with 10 % PEG-200 solution

Abstract

Electrochemical and biological analyzes were carried out on iron-wood composite archaeological objects from the “KASBA-OUDAYA” site in Morocco in 10 % PEG-200 solutions. Electrochemical measurements of steel combined with wood were made possible thanks to a proposed steel-wood configuration, with characterization of the surfaces after natural aging tests focused on the steel-wood interface by scanning electron microscope. The Mohr and Nephelometric method allow the determination of chloride and sulfate ions. While the biological study is ensured by isolation and enumeration of strains. The results revealed that the presence of wood in the PEG-200 solution decreased the pH of the solution and accelerated corrosion of steel. At the interface, we observe the development of pitting corrosion zones. In addition, PEG-200 solutions constitute a favorable environment for the proliferation of microorganisms.