Weathering

Contributors: Derek Lintala

The term weathering refers to various corrosion phenomena resulting from the water-induced deterioration of glass. The rate and nature of the deterioration depends on the environment of the glass (temperature, pollutants, and moisture levels), as well as the composition of the glass and its manufacturing process. In general, potash glasses weather quicker than soda glasses due to the increased mobility of potassium ions within the network (Koob 2006). Effects of weathering are clearly recognizable in the context of archaeological glass, when surfaces have become iridescent, discolored, or chalky. However, it also known to affect medieval stained glass, and (to a certain extent) much newer glass objects (Heimann 2017, Cox et al. 1979).

For further information on stained glass weathering, please see the following:

Stained glass glossary.

Conservation of stained glass.

Materials used in the conservation of stained glass.

Related Terms

Iridescence, leached layer, alkali-deficient layer, silica-rich layer, dealkalization, archaeological glass, dulling, opaque weathering, pitting, glass sickness, weeping, crizzling

Synonyms in English

Glass corrosion

Translation

English	Weathering
French	Corrosion du verre
Spanish	Corrosión de vidrio
Portuguese	Corrosão de vidro
Italian	Corrosione del vetro
German	Glaskorrosion
Arabic
Chinese (Traditional)	風化

Discussion

• Chemical Characteristics
  

  Fig. 1. SEM cross section of an iridescent weathering crust.

In glass, a silica network is modified by an alkali source (to lower the melting point of the glass) as well as a stabilizer to reduce solubility (Koob 2006). When an object experiences prolonged exposure to moisture, weathering occurs. The alkalis are leached out of the silica network and replaced by hydrogen ions and water. This results in an alkali-deficient layer, also called a gel layer, among many other terms . Reactions involving leached alkali ions at the surface are possible. In the case of archaeological glass, exposure in soil may result in a laminar structure of alkali-depleted silica corrosion layers running parallel to the surface of the object (see Fig. 1). In certain instances, this corrosion crust can serve as a protective layer against further weathering. Theories for the laminar structure have been proposed, including cyclic environmental fluctuation as well as continuous sequences of network dissolution and precipitation of weathering products (van Giffen 2014, Roemich 2007, Bellendorf et al. 2010). Reactions involving leached alkali ions at the surface can occur if the object is exposed in an indoor or outdoor environment. Depending on pollutants present in the air, this results mainly in the formation of carbonates, sulfates, oxalates, or acetates.

Fig. 2. Pitting on late Roman glass due to weathering processes.

• Visual Characteristics

The visual characteristics associated with weathering can be quite varied. It has been said that, "The term weathering is applied to any change for the worse on the surface...of glass that is caused, during the passage of time, by contact with outside influences..." (Davidson 1989). Generally, the term now describes chemical deterioration, which can be signaled by the following visual phenomena (among others):

1. Iridescence
   

   Fig. 3. A combination of visual phenomena resulting from weathering.
2. Dulling (haziness)
3. Discoloration
4. Opaque Weathering (due to a thick build-up of corrosion layers, see Fig. 3)
5. Total loss of glassy nature (object is so alkali-depleted that it loses its glassy properties) (van Giffen 2014)
6. Pitting (see Fig. 2)

References

“All About Glass | Corning Museum of Glass.” n.d. Accessed April 3, 2019. https://www.cmog.org/article/weathered-archaeological-glass.

Davison, Sandra. 2011. Conservation and Restoration of Glass. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

“Glass Corrosion: Weathering.” 2011. Behind the Glass (blog). September 14, 2011. https://blog.cmog.org/2011/09/14/glass-corrosion-weathering/.

Heimann, Robert B. 2018. “Weathering of Ancient and Medieval Glasses—Potential Proxy for Nuclear Fuel Waste Glasses. A Perennial Challenge Revisited.” International Journal of Applied Glass Science 9 (1): 29–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijag.12277.

Koob, Stephen P. 2006. Conservation and Care of Glass Objects. London : Corning, N.Y: Archetype Publications ; Published in association with the Corning Museum of Glass.

“The Weathering of Glass.” n.d. Accessed April 3, 2019. https://www.penn.museum/sites/roman%20glass/Weathering/weathering_intro.html.

Roemich, H.: Archaeological glasses – a closer look. L’actualite chimique Oct/Nov 2007, 30-33

Bellendorf, Paul, Hannelore Roemich, Sandra Gerlach, Peter Mottner, Esmeralda López, Katrin Wittstadt: Archaeological Glass: the Surface and Beyond. In: “Glass and Ceramics Conservation 2010” (Editor: H. Roemich), Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Working Group, October 3–6, 2010, Corning, New York, Preprints, ICOM Committee for Conservation, Corning Museum of Glass (2010), 137-144 http://www.icom-cc.org/54/document/wg-glass-and-ceramics-interim-meeting-corning-2010--preprint-bellendorf/?id=1286#.XOGFJNh7mpo

Römich, H.: Studies of Ancient Glass and Their Application to Nuclear-Waste Management. MRS Bulletin, July 2003, Volume 28, No. 7 (ISSN 0883-7694) 500-504)

Römich, H.: Glass and Ceramcis. Chapter 7 for the book “Conservation Science – Heritage Materials“ (eds E. May and M. Jones), the Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing, Cambridge, UK (2006)