Analysis of archaeological samples and local clays using ICP-AES, TG-DTG and FTIR techniques.
The spectrochemical and thermal analysis of different archaeological samples as bricks, terra-cotta and local clays were carried out. The concentration of major and minor elements of samples was determined by sequential inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The method was tested by determining Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ti, Na and K in the standard solutions and reference material GXR-4. The precision of the determination (relative standard deviation) ranged from 0.4 to 1.54%. The clay minerals are the main materials for the production of bricks and terra-cotta figures. Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential (TG-DTG) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) methods can be used for the study of characteristic reactions, associated with the course of the heating. The TG-DTG curves were obtained in the temperature range 25-900 degrees C, and the dynamic experiment was carried out in the air and nitrogen atmosphere. The infrared evolved gas analysis was performed using FTIR in the dynamic nitrogen atmosphere.
The Studies of Archaeological Pottery with the Use of Selected Analytical Techniques
ABSTRACT Modern analytical methods play an important role in archaeological objects, including ceramics. This review focuses on the use of analytical methods such as: gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), powder X-ray diffraction with thermal analysis to study the chemical and mineralogical composition of archaeological samples and organic residues preserved inside. In this paper, special attention was paid to the ToF-SIMS method, which allows the determination of characteristic ions on the surface of ceramic samples.
Microstructure of the solder-casting zone in bridges of dental gold alloys.
The composition and structure were studied in the cast and in the solder of bridges which had failed clinically. Both materials were gold alloys but with different contents of Pt, Ag and Zn. The metallographic investigation revealed defects mostly in the solder, situated in the subsurface layer. SEM studied of the fracture surface revealed large porosites and a structure of dense parallel lines--striations--, indicating that the material had failed from fatigue. The materials in the fractured bridges were identified by micro-probe measurements. It was stated that cast material and solder material used together, were of different composition.