Chapter 780 Knowing that the prescription can find a way back, only with sustenance can we seek development
There are generally two types of copper rust, harmless rust and harmful rust.
Due to water immersion, soil erosion and atmospheric erosion, the surface of bronze gradually changes.
They form a protective layer on the surface of the bronze, preventing it from further corrosion and adding to the antique tones of the bronze.
This is commonly known as "harmless rust".
People are subject to birth, old age, illness and death, and so are bronze vessels.
The moment it is forged by craftsmen, you make a living;
After thousands of years of baptism, we grow old;
Oxidation and rust occur over time, leading to disease;
When the copper rust penetrates the body of the vessel and cannot be repaired, the vessel dies.
The restorer's duty is to "rescue" the sick bronzes.
There is a harmful rust called "bronze disease", which is green powdery rust.
It is characterized by a green powdery substance with loose crystals that can be scraped off by fingernails and stained by hand touch.
This kind of rust can cause the corrosion of metal to continue to extend.
Eventually, this rust will cause holes in the bronze, or even turn it into a pile of rust powder.
In addition, this kind of rust is also very contagious like a virus. It is a "cancer" of bronzes and is extremely harmful.
You know, when this kind of thing was first discovered, there was no rule of law at all.
The bronzes that were almost stained were eventually rusted away.
With the development of science and technology, we can now handle it, but we also need to be careful.
Fortunately, it was discovered early and it's not too late to deal with it now.
Removing rust from bronzeware is a technical job. In addition to mechanical peeling, the most effective method is to use 160g of fine wood chips, 60g of talcum powder, 240g of wheat bran, and then add 50ml of vinegar, mix it into a paste, and apply it on the rusty surface.
On copperware, the patina will naturally come off after it dries.
Some rust layers are very strong and difficult to remove. You can use oil sludge to cut into long strips and surround the rust. Use a dropper to drip the solution to soften and decompose the copper rust. Then dig it out with a knife and rinse with water.
It should be noted that sometimes it is not necessary to take a comprehensive rust removal method for the utensils, but only need to do some local treatment.
Harmful rust must be dealt with.
When dealing with harmful rust, you must be careful.
When harmful rust develops, the loss of utensils will gradually become serious and continue to spread. This phenomenon must be dealt with in a timely manner and stored in isolation.
Harmful rust is actually a chemical reaction that ultimately converts copper into copper ions.
To prevent copper from being gradually converted into free copper ions, one must either prevent the bronze from coming into contact with oxygen and moisture in the air, or remove or isolate chlorine ions.
Bronze ware is originally used for collection and appreciation. If it is to be isolated from oxygen and moisture, it must be sealed and preserved.
As a result, the ornamental value is lost. Therefore, to deal with such patina, the application method is generally used to remove chloride ions in the bronze.
This method was born out of the traditional soaking method. It is simple to operate and has high rust removal accuracy. It greatly reduces the technical difficulty requirements and can preserve the copperware itself to the greatest extent and avoid "restorative damage". Even ordinary collectors can try it.
Before using the sticking method to remove harmful rust, you should first "scrape the bone to heal".
First use sharp bamboo slices to remove as much green powder as possible from harmful rust parts.
This can shorten the application time and avoid wastage of medicinal solution.
The next step is to apply cotton wool. Dip the cotton wool into the rust removal solution. After it is fully soaked, use tweezers to pinch out the cotton wool and apply it to the area where harmful rust occurs;
Then wrap the bronze in a plastic bag or plastic wrap to keep the cotton wool moist.
Take it out after 4 to 8 hours and rinse with distilled or purified water. Do not rinse with tap water;
Afterwards, observe the rust removal situation. If there is any residue, you can repeat steps 1 and 2 multiple times until the harmful rust on the surface of the bronze is removed.
During this process, you must pay attention: the rust removal solution is an alkaline solution with a pH value ≥ 8 and is corrosive to a certain extent. Do not get it on your hands. Please wear gloves when operating.
If it accidentally gets on your skin, just rinse with water.
Harmful rust does not only form on the surface of bronze, it may penetrate into the copper body, corrode the inside of the copper, and cause perforation and breakage of the copper.
Therefore, it is necessary to put the rust-removed bronzeware into the desalination solution and soak it for 1 to 2 weeks to avoid "fish slipping through the net".
After the soaking is completed, clean the bronze with distilled or purified water and place it in a dry place for observation for 2-3 days.
If harmful rust no longer appears on the copper, the next step can be taken;
If traces of harmful rust appear again, repeat the process of rust removal and soaking in desalting solution until the harmful rust is completely removed.
Sealing and preserving is the last step to remove harmful rust. Clean the bronze with distilled or purified water, dry it with a hair dryer or let it dry naturally. Then dip the sealing fluid with a brush and apply it evenly to the areas where harmful rust occurs.
Let dry before proceeding a second time.
The specific number of applications depends on the appearance changes after application.
But be careful not to apply too much to one area.
Applying too much may cause the bronze to be too sensitive to light or even turn white, affecting viewing.
If you accidentally apply too much, you can use acetone solution to lightly brush the excessive parts several times, and then let it dry in a ventilated place.
Under normal circumstances, bronzeware has harmful rust parts, and the color is often inconsistent with other parts. There may also be holes, which affects the viewing.
Therefore, after the rust removal work is completed, color repair can be performed to improve the ornamental value of the bronze.
After a few steps, the treatment of harmful rust on the bronze has been completed.
At this time, there is no need to seal the package for storage, and it can be displayed and appreciated at any time.
However, it should be noted that the storage environment should be kept dry and the temperature difference should not be too large.
When appreciating bronzes, you should wear professional chlorine-free cotton gloves and avoid touching them directly with your hands.
Looking at the exquisite bronzes in front of him, Chen Wenzhe couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
This was made by our ancestors more than 2,900 years ago. During that period, our ancestors were already able to make such exquisite things.
In addition, they can also use very gorgeous language to record the major historical events that happened at that time.
It can be said that the bronze wares originating from the beginning of Chinese civilization have lasted for five thousand years.
From the birth to the present, every artifact has a piece of Chinese history and civilization engraved behind it.
This is particularly important because it can provide evidence for the dating of the Xia Dynasty.
The restoration of cultural relics is not only to allow more people to appreciate the wisdom and creativity of our predecessors, but also to pass on the history of the nation so that we can have roots to look for and branches to rely on.
Only with knowledge can you find your way back, and only with sustenance can you seek development.
Waiting for everything to be finished, half a month has passed.
At this time, Chen Wenzhe had determined that the bronze vessel that had been completely repaired was another Xian Gonggu.
However, this one is better preserved and has more inscriptions inside.
Moreover, the inscriptions inside this piece are different from those previously preserved in the museum.