Picture: Rust particles from the broken grenade, pictured with the fuse; Originally we had hope to repair the broken grenade pieces, but just after 4 days of exposure to the open air the chlorides, salt crystals inside the iron dried and expanded, as a result it caused complete fragmentation of the iron structure (known as Rust Dust).
Keep the object submerged until you are ready to start the Electrolytic Reduction Process. If you are undecided or you don't have the time for the preservation process, there are various ways to stabilize an iron object. You may put off recovery till you are certain you can begin preservation immediately. If you place the recovered encrusted object in fresh water or saltwater it will rust and discolor. You can, after removing the encrustation, coat the object with a two part epoxy resin. The coating of the object will slow the formation of chloride crystallization. To remove the epoxy resin submerge the object completely for 24 hours in most types of furniture stripper. Once removal is complete you are ready for Electrolytic Reduction.

Preservation of objects in there natural encrusted form is an interesting concept. I personally have objects that I have had for 10 years that remain in the condition found and recovered (Simple Secret!). My hopes are to exhibit relics of sunken ships in their natural discovered form (the Art of Nature).

Example Diver (me) with a large encrusted ships cargo hook.

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