Zilu Zhang

With their rich historical, artistic, and scientific value, bronze artefacts form a significant part of our cultural heritage. These items, often found in museums around the world, offer a glimpse into past civilizations and their technological advancements. However, due to their prolonged burial and subsequent exposure to varying environmental conditions, these artefacts are prone to corrosion, necessitating meticulous preservation efforts. This review discusses the cultural significance and preservation challenges of bronze artefacts, which are emblematic of human civilization’s progression. This text highlights the historical and artistic value of ancient bronze artefacts, especially those from China, underscoring their intricate casting techniques and aesthetic richness. Despite their cultural importance, these bronze artefacts confront severe preservation issues, particularly the pervasive threat of corrosion, commonly referred to as “bronze disease”. This text also reviews the complex interplay between alloy composition, microstructure, and environmental factors that influence corrosion mechanisms. It requires an enhanced understanding of these factors to develop effective preservation strategies. This paper also emphasizes the need for innovative, eco-friendly technologies to prevent further degradation while maintaining the integrity of these precious artefacts. The applications of corrosion inhibitions, organic/inorganic coatings, as well as the newly developed strategies like the photo-induced passivation technique, 3D scanning and 3D printing techniques, and holographic projection/real and virtual technique for the direct or indirect protection and cultural transmission of the bronze artefacts were also introduced. This review concludes by underscoring the urgency of these research and development efforts to safeguard our cultural heritage for future generations.