Discusses the use of metal corrosion inhibitors in conservation, and the particular problems that confront conservators with their use: artifacts may be covered in thick corrosion products thus anodic inhibitors will not work; the appearance of the artifact has to be taken into consideration; long-term storage corrosion inhibition is required rather than just a reduction in corrosion rate. The article describes: the action of corrosion inhibitors; corrosion inhibitors in conservation (selection); inhibitor solutions treatments (washing and stripping) for removing soluble salts from corroded artifacts or removing corrosion products; and the problems of corrosion control during storage (inhibitor coatings, impregnation of an inhibitor into a corrosion product layer, dipping, volatile inhibitors). Discussion of paper included. 33 references.