Metallic heritage artefacts represent cultural traces of our past, and for this reason, their preservation and transmission to future generations is important. To protect copper-based artworks exposed outdoors, several conservation strategies are followed, including the use of organic corrosion inhibitors. Inhibitors are usually borrowed from the industrial field. However, the surface state of the metal with the presence of complex corrosion layers, and the protocol of inhibitors' application differ considerably from the industrial ones.The present study specifically addresses corrosion inhibitors for conservation of copper-based exposed artifacts by an innovative physico-chemical approach. The approach takes into account the complexity of ...