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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dltsrq, post: 7890145, member: 75482&quot;]Bronze disease can&#039;t be be cured but it can be interrupted and prevented from recurring. Bronze disease behaves in the manner it does because it is not a single chemical reaction but a repeating series of reactions where one feeds on the byproduct of another in an endless cycle. The basic reactants are copper, oxygen and chlorine (from water). Put simply, a coin with bronze disease is eaten away by hydrochloric acid. The object will eventually be completely consumed if not treated. Treatment involves breaking the cycle and then depriving the reaction of one of the essential ingredients - water. Even the small amount of water in the air on a humid day is enough to start the reaction again. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_disease" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_disease" rel="nofollow">This wikipedia article</a> covers the basics, including treatment. One method commonly used by collectors involves sodium sesquicarbonate which will neutralize any remaining acid and convert reactive cuprous chloride to relatively inert cuprous oxide. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will similarly neutralize the acid but does not do everything that the sesquicarbonate does. As noted above, the baking soda bath can have unpredictable results on the patina if left too long and/or not completely dissolved. Maintenance involves regular inspection and keeping the object as dry as possible. Good luck![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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