Research progress on the corrosion of tin-bronze artifacts in red soil environments

Tin-bronze artifacts serve as invaluable historical carriers but face severe preservation challenges in red soil environments, which are widespread in southern China. Characterized by strong acidity, high active iron-aluminum oxide content, and complex aeration properties, red soils impose unique electrochemical corrosion dynamics distinct from neutral environments. This review summarizes the fundamental corrosion mechanisms of tin-bronze, elaborating on the specific impacts of key red soil physicochemical properties—such as pH, redox potential, and microbial activity—on corrosion behavior. It explores the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of corrosion phenomena while analyzing the complex interplay of soil, alloy, and environmental factors influencing corrosion rates. Furthermore, the paper addresses current research limitations and outlines critical future directions, including micro-interface reaction mechanisms, long-term kinetics modeling, and differential studies on red soil subtypes. Ultimately, this work aims to provide comprehensive theoretical support and practical guidance for the scientific conservation of bronze artifacts excavated from red soil regions.