| Summary: | Gold leaf samples of different purities were corroded in a SO<sub>2</sub> atmosphere at three different relative humidities (30%, 60%, 90%) at ambient temperature, and the effects on color, gloss, and morphology were studied. Results showed that a corrosion rate of 0.0898 g/cm<sup>2</sup> could be attained after 6 weeks at high humidity. Color changes also occurred during the gold leaf corrosion process, and many thin pits formed on the surfaces, as shown by SEM. EDX results showed that these pits contained C, O, and S compounds. By comparing the results of different gold purity samples and different relative humidity conditions, it could be concluded that both gold content and humidity play an important role in SO<sub>2</sub> atmosphere corrosion. These conclusions are helpful for the conservation of gold leaf decorative cultural relics.
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