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Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Millifluidics for Chemical Synthesis and Time-resolved Mechanistic Studies
Published on: November 27, 2013
Study on the Purity of Gold Leaf in a SO2 Atmosphere at Ambient Temperature
Houyi Huang1, Guanglin Xu2, Xinyou Liu3,4
1College of Art and Design, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
Abstract:
Gold leaf samples of different purities were corroded in a SO2 atmosphere at three different relative humidities (30%, 60%, 90%) at ambient temperature, and the effects on color, gloss, and morphology were studied. Results showed that a corrosion rate of 0.0898 g/cm2 could be attained after 6 weeks at high humidity. Color changes also occurred during the gold leaf corrosion process, and many thin pits formed on the surfaces, as shown by SEM. EDX results showed that these pits contained C, O, and S compounds. By comparing the results of different gold purity samples and different relative humidity conditions, it could be concluded that both gold content and humidity play an important role in SO2 atmosphere corrosion. These conclusions are helpful for the conservation of gold leaf decorative cultural relics.
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