Lead Corrosion and Corrosivity Classification in Archives, Museums, and Churches

Abstract

Sixteen localities were involved in a broad study, resulting in the classification of the indoor corrosivity of metals considered in the ISO 11844 standard, especially lead. Recently, lead has been added to the standard as a metal specifically sensitive to volatile organic compounds such as acetic acid. Data on one-year exposure in museum depositories and exhibition spaces, archives, libraries, and churches show that the currently valid lead corrosivity categories are not correctly defined. The obtained data allowed for the proposal of new realistic ranges of indoor corrosivity categories for lead. The exposure program was also used to validate techniques for determining the corrosion degradation of metal coupons. Mass increase and mass loss techniques were supplemented with the galvanostatic reduction technique and the measurement of color changes. The study identified the limitations of the mass gain method. Not only is the galvanostatic reduction technique applicable for silver and copper coupons, but the build-up of reducible lead corrosion products depends on air corrosivity. CIELab color-change measurement has proven to be a simple and easy-to-apply method for monitoring the corrosivity of indoor atmospheres with regard to lead. A more reliable response is provided by the determination of color change after 3 months of exposure rather than after one year.