Research Progress on Characterization Techniques for the Corrosion Behavior of Bronze Artifacts

Ancient bronzes are invaluable for studying the cultures and history of ancient societies around the world. However, corrosion can diminish their research and aesthetic value, as well as affect their longevity. Therefore, it is crucial to study the corrosion behavior and mechanisms of these artifacts using advanced characterization techniques. This article provides a systematic review of the corrosion behavior of bronze artifacts and the advanced characterization techniques employed in their study. It summarizes the corrosion mechanisms of bronze artifacts and the factors affecting corrosion, including composition, structure, and the external environment. It also describes advanced analytical techniques for characterizing corrosion products and mechanisms, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), laser ablation coupled to quadrupole mass spectrometry (LAMQS), X-ray tomography (CT), and neutron diffraction. Bronze corrosion studies can be enhanced by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Finally, it discusses potential future research directions in the field of bronze artifact corrosion and conservation.