OVERVIEW

Metals are among the key materials in the evolution of humanity and, as such, have entered every area of life. Knowing metallurgy means being able to understand what is written inside a find (the choice of alloy, the processing techniques, the history of use). Knowing how to choose the investigation techniques means being able to understand a work well beyond its appearance. It provides essential tools for conserving the object and the knowledge it contains.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course is dedicated to a wide range of students from both scientific and humanities backgrounds. Therefore, the objectives are as follows:

- Attain a proper understanding of the information obtainable from the study of metallic objects.

- Contribute to the study with appropriate questions and a consistent choice of instrumentation.

- Learn to interpret the results critically.

- Set up experimental activities.

- Provide insights into understanding corrosion processes, stabilization and consolidation procedures, and parameters influencing alteration phenomena.

- Establish correlations between the acquired data and archaeological, historical, or historical-artistic information to formulate a correct interpretation of the nature of the artifact and the related techniques.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the student will have achieved the following objectives:

• A proper understanding of the information that can be obtained from the study of metallic objects is essential, since metallic materials make it possible to gather information on forming processes and usage practices, alloy selection, cooling processes, forming techniques (both hot and cold working), and exposure to unintended thermal phenomena (e.g., fire, burning, use over domestic flames).

• The ability to formulate appropriate research questions necessary for characterization and to support conservation and/or restoration processes. This implies the correct selection of investigative instruments.

• Learning to support specialists in the field of cultural heritage by communicating what information can be extracted from an artifact and which techniques should be adopted to optimize both the outcome and the understanding of the artifact and its conservation needs.

• Interpreting results with a critical approach: reconstructing transformation processes and reaching the most advanced possible stage in data interpretation.

• Designing experimental activities: hypothesizing and carrying out practical tests that support the interpretation of collected research results.

• Understanding corrosion processes, stabilization and consolidation procedures, and the parameters influencing alteration phenomena, moving from the study of long-term corrosion to its relationship with environmental conditions (whether excavation, storage, or display), to provide effective support for subsequent restoration and conservation processes.

• Integrating the collected data with information related to the object under study derived from parallel, not strictly metallurgical aspects, such as ethnographic, archaeological, and art-historical knowledge, as well as usage practices.

PREREQUISITES

There are no necessary prerequisites other than those already required by the master's degree course.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is mainly held in the classroom with practical examples and seminars by specialists in the metallurgy sector.

The practical part of the course takes place in the metallurgy laboratory and includes preparing alloys of historical-archaeological interest, their metallographic preparation, and their characterization.

Visits to museum areas or monumental areas of interest are planned.

Compensatory and dispensatory measures Disability/Invalidity/Specific Learning Disorder

Dispensatory measures and compensatory tools are intended to enable students to achieve the same learning objectives as their fellow students, not to facilitate the examination.

The use of compensatory tools and the application of dispensatory measures must be authorised in advance by the teacher in agreement with the Referee.

To take advantage of the adaptations during the examination, fill in the Adaptation request form; the request will be automatically sent by the system to the teacher in charge of the teaching, to the Contact Person of your School/Area/Department and in copy to the Sector; you will also receive a copy of the request sent by e-mail.

The adjustments available to students are as follows:

• Additional time (+30% DSA)
• Additional time (+50% disability/invalidity)
• Additional time during oral exams to organise the answer
• Calculator (programmable and graphing calculators are not allowed)
• Conceptual Maps
• Tables and/or Forms
• Take the exam in written form
• Take the exam in oral form
• Tutor reader (for written tests only)
• Tutor-writer (for written tests only)

Your request for adaptations must be submitted at least 7 working days before the scheduled exam date.

All information for students with disabilities and DSA is available on the webpage: Services for students with disabilities or DSA | UniGe | University of Genoa

Reference for inclusion: Sergio Di Domizio - sergio.didomizio@unige.it

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction to the course and equalization of basic knowledge levels. Metals from their origins to the present day. Metals and alloys of archaeological, historical and historical-artistic interest. Characteristics common to all metals. Correlation between microstructure, composition, deformation, heat treatments. Correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties. Correlation between the manufacturing process, the type of use and what has been learned about composition and mechanical properties. Introduction to corrosion processes. Case studies based on the type of alloy and the period. Characterization of metallic materials: from sampling to metallography, elemental analysis, characterization of corrosion phases and products, quantitative image analysis.

Laboratory: preparation of an alloy by casting in sand, graphite, steel, brass. Deformation of an alloy by rolling and annealing. Metallographic characterization and elemental analysis. Observations under the optical microscope and the electronic microscope.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All slides used during the lessons and other teaching materials will be available on aul@web. In general, the notes taken during the lessons and the material on aul@web are sufficient for the preparation of the exam.

Daniel A. Brandt, Metallurgy Fundamentals, Goodheart-Willcox; Sixth Edition, Textbook (October 9, 2019)

Metals and Mines: studies in archaeometallurgy, by S. La Niece and D. Hook, 2007, Archetype Pubns

K. Gayathri Subrahmanyam, Archaeometallurgy in Proto and Early Historic Periods, 2014

A. Hauptmann, Archaeometallurgy – Materials Science Aspects, 2020, Springer Nature

Archaeometallurgy, by Chang Ock Choi and Jea-Young Choi, 2020, Trans Tech Publications Ltd

Reverse Engineering of Ancient Metals, Editors: Patricia Silvana Carrizo, Springer 2021

In case the student autonomously finds a book potentially suitable for this teaching, it is mandatory to submit it to the teachers evaluation before to proceed with its usage.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PAOLO PICCARDO (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

End of September according to the Master Calendar

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is oral.

The test is divided into 3 questions, one for each macro topic: (1) metals and alloys, 2) critical reading of a paper chosen by the student, and (3) suitability of investigation techniques. Each answer is evaluated on a scale of 0 to 10 points.

The final grade is the sum of the points earned for the answers.

Students who have a valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework, and exams should speak with both the teacher and Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The purpose of the exam is to verify knowledge of the course's basic concepts and the ability to logically connect them to describe the correlation between microstructural aspects and macroscopic properties of metallic materials.

The propriety of language and coherence in reasoning are given great consideration in the evaluation, with particular emphasis on the ability to make connections.

The questions are posed to allow a detailed exposition of a specific topic. There are three questions, and each focuses on one of the three sections that characterize the teaching, leaving room for reasoning. The understanding of the subject and the ability to apply it in practical work and research are assessed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The teaching can be integrated with the teaching of corrosion and protection and with the teaching of Metallurgy of non-ferrous metals.