| Stage: |
Endeavour Cannons: |
Vernon Anchors: |
| Physical Treatment |
- Hammers used to remove hard coral from cannon surfaces.
- Core drilling of cannons’ bores.
|
- Iron surfaces blasted with copper slag, which removed outer corrosion and the remains of protective paint, then garnet polished.
|
| Electrolytic Treatment |
- Electrolysis in 2% NaOH solution for many weeks.
- Baths changed regularly.
- Continued until chloride concentration levelled out at approximately 20 ppm.
|
- Electrolysis not used because:
- Would cause damage to timber stocks
- Was not necessary
|
| Final Treatment |
- Immersed in molten microcrystalline wax for five days (reversible).
|
- Iron treated with zinc epoxy paint.
- Timber stocks saturated with zinc napthenate solution.
|
| Display |
- One cannon displayed indoors at Australian National Maritime Museum.
- Protected from moisture and harsh light.
|
- Displayed outdoors at Australian National Maritime Museum.
- Exposed to elements.
- Rest on aluminium mesh, which:
- Allows water to drain away.
- Has a higher oxidation potential than iron.
|
| Monitoring |
- Because the artefact is not exposed to any potentially harmful elements, monitoring is not particularly important.
|
- Regularly inspected for deterioration.
- Hosed with freshwater on a regular basis to reduce salt build-up.
|
