Bibliographical Synthesis on the Corrosion and Protection of Archaeological Iron by Green Inhibitors

Abstract

Iron is a widely used metal due to its low cost and availability, but it is susceptible to corrosion in many circumstances. This corrosion can result in economic and environmental losses, and negatively affect the physical and chemical properties of the metal. This chapter provides a background on iron corrosion in archaeology and introduces various inhibitors used for its protection. It starts with a general overview of corrosion and metallurgy of iron, followed by an in-depth explanation of the mechanisms of iron corrosion in water and air. The chapter concludes with a review of different corrosion inhibitors, focusing on those made from natural plant extracts.