scholarly journals Roman Wall Paintings: Characterisation of Plaster Coats Made of Clay Mud

Heritage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 889-905
Author(s):  
Roberto Bugini ◽  
Cristina Corti ◽  
Luisa Folli ◽  
Laura Rampazzi

This paper reports on the mineralogical characterisation of samples of wall paintings from various Roman sites in Lombardy (Italy), revealing recurrent types of stratigraphy. One of the stratigraphic samples analysed was found to be a particular kind of plaster: a three-coat work featuring two coats made of clay mud, found in the site of Santa Maria alla Porta (area of the Imperial Palace of Milan—first century CE). The fragments were analysed using optical microscopy on thin sections, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive spectrometer and infrared spectroscopy, also in non-invasive external reflection mode (7500–375 cm−1). The most interesting feature found was the finish coat made of clay mud (illite, chlorite, kaolinite and fine quartz) with a few coarse clasts and linear cavities. This clay coat was the first example ever detected in Roman Lombardy and was used in combination with a thin painted coat made of clay mud with coarse clasts together with a blue pigment (Egyptian blue) and a render coat made of lime associated with lithic clasts (sand). Our findings brought to light a particular construction technique, since in the historical sources clay is only recommended for daubing on reeds and as a render coat.

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1645-1652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josefina Pérez-Arantegui ◽  
Carlos Pardos ◽  
José-Luis Abad ◽  
José-Ramón García

AbstractIn Romanesque wall paintings in Aragon (Spain), the pigment used for creating blue was a very characteristic mineral, aerinite, which came from local ores in the southern Pyrenees. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, X-ray diffraction, and reflectance spectroscopy were used to make a detailed microcharacterization of this rare blue pigment in order to improve the knowledge of its composition and possible variability, from samples of medieval paintings and some mineral ores. New analytical data on the chemical composition of the blue pigment are reported here, together with the characterization of its microstructure, and the heterogeneity of the natural pigment made by the features of the ore itself. X-ray diffraction pattern and color parameters of the mineral ores are also included. The data obtained by SEM-EDX will assist identification of this pigment by electron microscopy. The natural variability in composition observed in the samples may be used to explain formation of the extracted mineral and to compare several ore sources. Connection of the ore composition with the pigments used in Romanesque wall paintings will help both provenance and attribution studies.


Heritage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 2599-2622
Author(s):  
Yan Song ◽  
Linlin Zhou ◽  
Yunpeng Wang ◽  
Fangzhi Liu ◽  
Juwen Guo ◽  
...  

In 1996, more than four hundred Buddhist statues were excavated from the Hoard of Longxing Temple site in Qingzhou, Shandong Province, China. They are of great significance in the study of Buddhism history during the Northern and Southern Dynasties of China, and have attracted widespread attention since they were unearthed. In this paper, the paint layers from 14 of the Buddhist statues unearthed from the Longxing Temple site were analyzed using portable 3D microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was used to determine the materials used in their production. Several microscopic samples were analyzed in the laboratory using scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometer, X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The combined results from the field and laboratory analyses materials used in painting layers of these statues were identified, and the technique for the production of the sculptures was studied. After the stone sculpture of Buddha was finished, a priming layer of lead white was applied over the stone body as a ground, over which pigments were applied. These include mineral pigments (cinnabar, malachite, lapis lazuli and cerussite), Chinese ink (carbon black) and gold leaf. Cinnabar was used for the outer garments, the halos and ornaments of Buddha and Bodhisattva statues; malachite, was found primarily on the Monk’s clothing; the blue pigment, lapis lazuli, was mainly used for the Buddha’s bun, halo and outer garment edges; carbon black ink was employed for drafting and sketching clothing and decorative patterns.


Author(s):  
T. J. Beveridge

The Bacillus subtilis cell wall provides a protective sacculus about the vital constituents of the bacterium and consists of a collection of anionic hetero- and homopolymers which are mainly polysaccharidic. We recently demonstrated that unfixed walls were able to trap and retain substantial amounts of metal when suspended in aqueous metal salt solutions. These walls were briefly mixed with low concentration metal solutions (5mM for 10 min at 22°C), were well washed with deionized distilled water, and the quantity of metal uptake (atomic absorption and X-ray fluorescence), the type of staining response (electron scattering profile of thin-sections), and the crystallinity of the deposition product (X-ray diffraction of embedded specimens) determined.Since most biological material possesses little electron scattering ability electron microscopists have been forced to depend on heavy metal impregnation of the specimen before obtaining thin-section data. Our experience with these walls suggested that they may provide a suitable model system with which to study the sites of reaction for this metal deposition.


Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 678
Author(s):  
Stefano Alberti ◽  
Irene Basciu ◽  
Marco Vocciante ◽  
Maurizio Ferretti

In this contribution, the photoactivity upon activation by simulated sunlight of zinc oxide (ZnO) obtained from two different synthetic pathways (Acetate and Nitrate) is investigated for water purification. Different reagents and processes were exploited to obtain ZnO nanoparticles. Products have been characterized by means of X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy along with Energy Dispersive Spectrometer, Dynamic Light Scattering, and Diffuse Reflectance Measurements, to highlight the different outcomes ascribable to each synthesis. A comparison of characteristics and performances was also carried out with respect to commercial ZnO. Nanoparticles of this semiconductor can be obtained as aggregates with different degrees of purity, porosity, and shape, and their physical-chemical properties have been addressed to the specific use in wastewater treatment, testing their effectiveness on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) as a model pollutant. Excluding the commercial sample, experimental results evidenced a better photocatalytic behavior for the ZnO Nitrate sample annealed at 500 °C, which was found to be pure and stable in water, suggesting that ZnO could be effectively exploited as a heterogeneous photocatalyst for the degradation of emerging pollutants in water, provided that thermal treatment is included in the synthetic process.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 508
Author(s):  
José Luis Ruvalcaba-Sil ◽  
Luis Barba ◽  
Edgar Casanova-González ◽  
Alejandro Mitrani ◽  
Margarita Muñoz ◽  
...  

Techinantitla building complex, in the Amanalco neighborhood of the ancient city of Teotihuacan, is famous for the iconography and quality of the mural paintings found in this site. A significant part of this heritage has been lost due to looting. In recent years, an interdisciplinary research project was developed to study the limited patrimony that was left. As part of this study, we first employed geophysical techniques to reconstruct the architectural pattern of the compound’s remaining walls, where other paintings may still be found. Then, we applied a non-invasive methodology to characterize a large set of fragments recovered in the 1980s and to gain information on their pigments and manufacturing techniques. This methodology included False Color Infrared Imaging, X-ray Fluorescence and Fiber-Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy, and led to the identification of hematite, calcite, malachite, azurite and an unidentified blue pigment. The results were compared with a previous study performed on a set of Techinantitla mural paintings looted in the 1960s. A broader comparison with contemporary mural paintings from other Teotihuacan complexes shows good agreement in the materials used. These results may suggest a standardization in the making of Teotihuacan mural painting during the Xolapan period (350 to 550 AD).


Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Zhang ◽  
Guanghui Li ◽  
Jinxiang You ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
Jun Luo ◽  
...  

Ludwigite ore is a typical low-grade boron ore accounting for 58.5% boron resource of China, which is mainly composed of magnetite, lizardite and szaibelyite. During soda-ash roasting of ludwigite ore, the presence of lizardite hinders the selective activation of boron. In this work, lizardite and szaibelyite were prepared and their soda-ash roasting behaviors were investigated using thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS) analyses, in order to shed light on the soda-ash activation of boron within ludwigite ore. Thermodynamics of Na2CO3-MgSiO3-Mg2SiO4-Mg2B2O5 via FactSage show that the formation of Na2MgSiO4 was preferential for the reaction between Na2CO3 and MgSiO3/Mg2SiO4. While, regarding the reaction between Na2CO3 and Mg2B2O5, the formation of NaBO2 was foremost. Raising temperature was beneficial for the soda-ash roasting of lizardite and szaibelyite. At a temperature lower than the melting of sodium carbonate (851 °C), the soda-ash roasting of szaibelyite was faster than that of lizardite. Moreover, the melting of sodium carbonate accelerated the reaction between lizardite with sodium carbonate.


2011 ◽  
Vol 685 ◽  
pp. 367-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Qi ◽  
Da Yi Yang ◽  
Jing Ying Zhang ◽  
Hong Jun Ai

In order to improve the osteoblast growth and bacteria resistance, Zn-containing hydroxyapatite (Zn-HA) and titanium oxide (TiO2) composite coatings were prepared to improve binding between coating and Ti substrate. TiO2 film was prepared on the surface of Ti by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and Zn-HA coating was deposited on TiO2 using sol–gel technique. Phase structure, composition and microstructure of the surface coatings were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), respectively. The adhesion strength between the coatings with different Zn content was measured by tensile testing. The results showed that there was no significant influence of Zn content on adhesion strength between coating and Ti substrate.


2015 ◽  
Vol 817 ◽  
pp. 278-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Jin Wang ◽  
Ren Bo Song ◽  
Ya Ping Li ◽  
Ruo Ling Bi

Formed in the semi-solid state, materials can obtain unconventional microstructures and properties compared with traditional method. In this paper, semi-solid billet of 9Cr18 steel was obtained through a wavelike sloping plate. Microstructure analysis of the semi-solid billet was conducted through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). X-ray diffraction (XRD) test and microhardness test were also used to analyze the properties. The results showed that the structure of 9Cr18 semi-solid billet contained globular primary austenite and secondary austenite-Cr7C3 eutectic. Globular primary austenite grains were first formed during partial solidification in the sloping plate, and then the rest liquid metal formed secondary austenite and Cr7C3 eutectic structure surrounding the primary grains. Cr atoms had a concentration in the rest liquid side, which along with C atoms contributed to the formation of the Cr7C3 carbide. Hardness in the primary solid grain area and the eutectic area was about 330 HV and 650 HV, respectively. These specific properties were important for subsequent thixoforming of the functional graded materials.


Author(s):  
Alaa Mohamed Elsafi ◽  
Vinotha Krishnasamy ◽  
Karthik Kannan ◽  
John-John Cabibihan ◽  
Abdulaziz Khalid AlAli ◽  
...  

High levels of glucose or acetone in breath confirms diabetes disease. One of the analytical devices that detect changes in breath is the electrochemical sensor having high selectivity, easy to use and being able to meet diabetic patient’s needs. In this study, sensors were made by fabricating metal oxide coated glassy carbon electrodes and using nafion as a proton conductor. Characterization methods such as X-ray diffraction, FTIR and morphological analysis have been performed for metal oxides to characterize their atomic arrangement and composition. In addition, electrochemical studies were done using Gamry instrument and curves plotted as current in amperes versus voltage to test the coated electrodes conductivity. High selectivity sensors provide promising applications in any field.


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