Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Cold Plasma in Cleaning Archeological Glass Extracted from Burial Environment

Shaaban Hassan, Hassan; Sayed Abdel Rahim, Nagwa; MOHAMED SALLAM, AHMED; Mohamed Saleh, Saleh

doi:10.21608/mkasu.2025.407451.1495

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Cold Plasma in Cleaning Archeological Glass Extracted from Burial Environment

Document Type : Academic scientific reviews of any other material related to the main domains of this Journal.

Authors

¹ Conservation Department,, Faculty of Archaeology, Aswan University, Aswan Governorate, Egypt

² Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum University, Fayoum Governorate, Egypt.

³ Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Aswan University, Aswan Governorate, Egypt.

10.21608/mkasu.2025.407451.1495

Abstract

In the study, plasma was used as a new method for cleaning the surfaces of archeological glass artifacts from adhered damage residues as an environmentally friendly technique. The study aims to clean an archaeological glass piece extracted from the excavations of the northern coast, which was suffering from damage manifested in mud, blackening, and corrosion due to the burial environment. The cleaning was done using atmospheric pressure plasma with the Corona Discharge Plasma technique as an additional method to traditional cleaning, using argon gas (Ar). The treatment and cleaning of the piece and its exposure to plasma lasted for 45 separate minutes. The results were evaluated by conducting scientific examinations and analyses represented by visual inspection, (USB), (SEM), and (XRF) analysis, to ensure the accuracy of the results before and after plasma cleaning. It is evident from the optical inspection results and (USB) that a very good and completely satisfactory result was achieved in cleaning a significant portion of the damage residues adhered to the surface of the glass piece using plasma. The (SEM) results showed a very clear difference in the morphological surface structure of the piece before and after cleaning, confirming the efficiency of plasma cleaning. The (XRF) analysis technique demonstrated the selectivity and effectiveness of plasma in cleaning by removing the damage residues adhered to the surface of the piece without affecting its essential components, as evidenced by the significant reduction in the ratios of elements associated with damage appearances.

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