Electrochemical impedance measurements in the conservation of metals

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) has proved a useful technique in corrosion science, in the field of protective coatings characterisation especially. Until recently, this technique has been rarely applied to metal conservation problems. The application to cultural heritage protection requires special attention to a number of particular aspects. The development of the technique for field measurement on outdoor monuments is of interest, and the classical method must be adapted to fulfil the special requirements of field measurements. This paper presents a short overview of the EIS technique and applications to the field of cultural heritage, which are still largely in progress. A specially designed measurement methodology for field application on outdoor bronzes still under development is described.