CORROSION OF BRONZE BY ACETIC AND FORMIC-ACID VAPORS, SULFUR-DIOXIDE AND SODIUM-CHLORIDE PARTICLES

This paper studies the corrosion of patinated and unpatinated bronze b y acetic and formic acid vapours, sulphur dioxide and sodium chloride salt particles, at 100% relative humidity. Weight loss, X-ray diffract ion, infrared and scanning electron microscopy were the techniques use d. Acetic and formic acid vapours, sulphur dioxide and sodium chloride produce a high corrosion rate on bronze. In general, no protective ef fect was found by the patina on bronze, The principal compounds identi fied were Cu2O, Cu2S, CU5(SO4)(2)(OH)(6) . 5H(2)O, Cu(CH3CO2)(2) . XH( 2)O and Cu(HCO2)(2).