Exploring Options for Museum Piece Preservation

January 23, 2023

Museums and historical sites around the world store and display irreplaceable cultural treasures. Unfortunately, a wide range of these museum specimens— ancient swords, silver collections, lead or iron artifacts, and bronze or brass statues—are at risk for corrosion. To supplement the non-optional temperature and humidity controls of indoor display cases or storage areas, museum curators may explore the following technologies from Cortec^®Corporation.

Museum Preservation

Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors

Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors (VCI/VpCI^®) are ideal for enclosed spaces. These corrosion inhibiting vapors adsorb on metal surfaces, forming an invisible protective layer as long as they remain trapped inside a space. VpCI^®-105 Emitters are just one of many VCI delivery systems and protect a variety of metals:
• Carbon Steel
• Stainless Steel
• Copper
• Brass
• Aluminum
• Cast Iron
• Silver
• Galvanized Steel
• Tinplate

H₂S Absorption

Corrosorber^® cups or pouches can also be placed inside display cases and storage bins to absorb corrosive gases present in the air.

Coatings and Rust Preventatives

Transparent coatings or rust preventatives may be used to protect statues that cannot be housed in climate-controlled areas. VpCI^®-316 is a water-based liquid concentrate that leaves behind a very thin, transparent, tack-free protective film and is a good option for bronze or brass statues displayed indoors. EcoShield^® VpCI^®-386 is a clear, high gloss water-based permanent coating with UV resistance for use outdoors on a variety of different metals. VpCI^®-375 may be preferred if lower gloss is needed.

Explore Your Options

Although each corrosion protection choice must be made with careful consideration of the materials and environment, the availability of several options offers greater flexibility than temperature and humidity control alone. Contact Cortec^® to discuss your museum preservation needs and select the appropriate options for your treasures.

Keywords: museum preservation, bronze corrosion, museum preservation techniques, corrosion protection, rust prevention on statues, rust preventatives, coatings for statues, Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors, VCI, Cortec

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