adams@swbatl.UUCP (4237) (12/04/89)
I'm curious about a process I just saw mentioned in the local paper. This occurred in a article acquired from the London Observer [wire] Service, about a late 14th century cannon found in the ocean off the coast of North Carolina. I'll quote: When the cannon was retrieved it was fully loaded with a ball and with gunpowder that was still tightly packed and and dry. Electrolysis was used to reverse rusting, and the cannon was cleaned, dried in a kiln, painted with tannic acid and sealed with micro-crystalline wax. Just what can be done to "reverse rusting?" What are the limits and costs of this technology? What is the significance of the post-electrolysis processing? I'm mostly curious, not planning to reignite the "corrosion wars" nor hoping to profitably restore my collection of rusty nails :). The cannon, by the way, was significant because it was of the type onboard a ship used by the "lost colony" of Roanoke Island, and could help solve the 400 year mystery about the disappearance of the first English colony in America. -- # ---Tom Adams--- | uunet!swbatl!adams or adams@swbatl.swbt.com # I collect pre-1930 wireless, electrical and scientific books. # opinions... Opinions? I don't think I'm allowed to have opinions.