To effectively preserve the quality of Chinese swords, it is first necessary to control environmental parameters, strictly maintaining the relative humidity between 45% and 55%, and keeping the environmental temperature stable at 18 to 22 degrees Celsius. Studies show that for every 30 days when the humidity exceeds 60%, the rusting probability of high-carbon steel sword blades will increase by 25%. For instance, the monitoring data of the bronze sword of Marquis Yi of Zeng from the Hubei Provincial Museum shows that by controlling the fluctuation range within ±2% through a constant temperature and humidity system, the surface oxidation rate was reduced by 70%, enabling this cultural relic, which is approximately 2,400 years old, to still maintain a hardness of HRC 25 or above.
In the daily maintenance process, it is recommended to carry out manual maintenance every 30 days. Apply mineral oil to the sword blade, with an oil film thickness of about 0.01 millimeters, to form an anti-corrosion barrier. According to a 2023 report by the China Metal Cultural Relics Protection Association, swords that are regularly oiled can have their lifespan extended to over 100 years, while unmaintained samples have a median rusted area of 15% within 10 years. When operating, cotton gloves should be worn to prevent hand sweat (with a salt concentration of 0.9%) from coming into contact with the metal. Referring to the maintenance standards for the bronze swords unearthed from the Terracotta Army Pit in Xi ‘an in 2022, the pH value should be controlled between 6.5 and 7.5, with an error range of ±0.2.
For professional storage solutions, it is recommended to use sealed display cabinets with silica gel desiccants placed inside (3 grams of desiccant per liter of volume) to keep the local humidity deviation below 5%. For instance, the case of Zhang Yi, a collector of bronze swords in Suzhou, shows that the custom-made cabinet filled with argon gas reduced the oxidation reaction rate by 90%, with an investment cost of about 2,000 yuan, but the repair cost avoided within five years exceeded 10,000 yuan. The risk assessment of metal cultural relics conducted by the Palace Museum in 2024 shows that the intelligent monitoring system can transmit temperature and humidity data in real time, with an early warning accuracy of 99%, reducing the probability of sudden risks from 10% to 0.5%.
From an investment perspective, the annual depreciation rate of well-preserved Chinese Swords can be controlled within 1%, while the value of poorly maintained collections loses an average of 15% annually. For instance, a Ming Dynasty Yongle sword was sold for 5 million yuan at an auction in 2021. Its appraisal report indicates that due to the continuous application of micro-environment control technology, the strength of the sword blade still maintains a tensile strength of 400 megapascals. Collectors can allocate 10% of their annual budget to maintenance. By establishing long-term support relationships with partner institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage, the lifespan of these thousand-year-old craft carriers can be maximized, allowing their historical brilliance to remain ever fresh.