What is electrolytic reduction and what are its risks and benefits?
Electrolytic reduction is a conservation treatment that can be used on some metal artifacts. It is commonly used on iron excavated from marine environments, but it has occasionally been used on other metals, including lead and silver under special circumstances. It should not be used on all metal artifacts, particularly highly corroded ones, as it has the potential to be a very damaging treatment if used incorrectly or inappropriately. The corrosion of metals in an archaeological environment occurs as an electrochemical process. When dissimilar metals come into electrical contact in the archaeological deposit, less noble metals corrode preferentially to more noble metals. (This process also occurs on a microscopic level within metal alloys). Serving as the anode, the less noble metal donates electrons to more noble metal, or the cathode. This exchange of electrons is similar to the flow of electricity through a battery and can result in a variety of complex corrosion products. Electrol
