Dear Mustafa,

I agree with David that the resin is to prevent oxidation. Molten copper and copper alloys have a great appetite for oxygen, and too high an oxygen concentration will cause the melt to solidify as a mixture of copper, cuprite, and cassiterite. I have seen such material in Bronze and Iron Age metalworking sites.

 

Ion alpha phase in martensitic bronzes, it always seems to be there. I have never measured how much and compared that with the composition. I have the samples and I have the i8mage analysis software, I guess nobody has ever paid me to take an analysis that far. Perhaps over the Christmas holidays I can get the microscope out and emasure some of my samples.

 

Regards,

Peter

 

From: Arch-Metals Group <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Mustafa Umut Sarac
Sent: 12 November 2021 18:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Turkish Cymbals , Yellow Pine Resin Flux

 

What is the role of very thick yellow pine resin flux being applied to cover molten bronze crucible after tin mixed ? Is it to lower the melting temperature or stop the oxidation or stop the evaporation of tin or collect the trace elements ?

 

Thank you very much indeed ,

 

Mustafa Umut Sarac

Archaeologist ,

Istanbul

 

 

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