scholarly journals Characterization of Natural Stone from the Archaeological Site of Pella, Macedonia, Northern Greece

Heritage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 4665-4677
Author(s):  
Panayotis K. Spathis ◽  
Maria Mavrommati ◽  
Eirini Gkrava ◽  
Vasilios Tsiridis ◽  
Sotiris P. Evgenidis ◽  
...  

The goal of the study was to characterize the limestone that was used extensively in the ancient city of Pella (Macedonia, Greece), the birthplace of Alexander the Great. An on-site examination of the building material was carried out to record the types of damage and to select sampling areas. A variation in the nature of the stone and the degree of deterioration, even between the stones that comprise a specific monument structure, was observed, with water absorption and biological colonization being the main factors resulting in the deterioration of the stone. A comprehensive microanalysis and testing scheme was conducted to fully characterize the mineralogical, chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of the stones collected from various areas of the archaeological site. Optical microscopy, XRD and SEM–EDX were used to investigate the chemical composition and the structure of the stone samples. Finally, other properties, such as porosity, specific gravity and water absorption, were measured. Surface alterations, material degradation and biological deterioration were observed in most samples. The results obtained using XRD showed that the dominant mineral phase of the limestone is calcite, with quartz and clay minerals also detected in traces. The microscopic examination of the samples showed that the main natural stone at the archaeological site is a marly limestone. Thermographical measurements showed that the decay of the stones due to ambient temperature variation and corresponding contraction/expansion phenomena may be relatively limited, as the stone exhibited a low thermal diffusivity. Moreover, high porosity values (12.06–21.09%) and low compressive strength (11.3–27.7 MPa) were recorded, indicating the vulnerability of the stone and the need to take conservation measures.

Author(s):  
Clyde E. Fant ◽  
Mitchell G. Reddish

In 315 B.C.E. Cassander, king of Macedonia, once a general in the army of Alexander the Great, founded a new city in his kingdom. He named it for his wife, Thessalonike, daughter of Philip II of Macedon and the half sister of Alexander. In the centuries that followed, Thessalonica became the premier city of northern Greece, enduring and flourishing under Hellenistic, Roman, and Greek control. Many famous figures in world history played important roles throughout its lengthy and colorful existence, including Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Cicero, Pompey, and Sulëyman I the Magnificent, among others. But no resident or visitor to Thessalonica had a greater influence on the city than an obscure Christian missionary who visited there in the first century, Paul of Tarsus. The first New Testament writing is believed to be Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. Modern Thessaloniki (biblical Thessalonica), second only to Athens among the cities of Greece, is easily reached by automobile or by frequent flights from Athens. Although its ancient ruins and monuments are overshadowed by those of Athens, this city is well worth visiting for its fine archaeological museum and as a point of departure for the spectacular Royal Tombs at Vergina, home to the amazing riches of the family of Alexander the Great. Increasingly, more of ancient Thessalonica is being unearthed by archaeologists and made available to public view. According to Strabo, Thessalonica was established at the site of ancient Therme and formed from the incorporation of twenty-five smaller villages. The ancient city was laid out according to the Hippodamian plan, that is, in rectangular blocks. Its development was encouraged by its fine port and, during the Roman period, by being made the capital of Macedonia. When the Romans connected the Via Egnatia, the historic road linking east and west, to Thessalonica, the city prospered even more. The Roman orator Cicero was exiled in Thessalonica (58–57 B.C.E.) and wrote to his friend Atticus on July 21, 57 B.C.E., that he had delayed leaving the city “owing to the constant traffic along the road” (the Via Egnatia; M. Tullius Cicero, Letters 69).


2019 ◽  
Vol 798 ◽  
pp. 194-199
Author(s):  
Kannikar Kaewapai ◽  
Narumon Lertcumfu ◽  
Pharatree Jaita ◽  
Supalak Manotham ◽  
Tawee Tunkasiri ◽  
...  

The present study focuses on the new application of geopolymer ceramic composites as substrate cultures, resulting from the geopolymer properties being similar to those of the substrate cultures such as water absorption, non-biodegradation, high porosity, and light weight. The geopolymers were synthesized from ceramic wastes and metakaolin using the geopolymerization method via a reaction with an alkaline solution. To compare usefulness for substrate culture applications, the porosity of different samples was varied. Moreover, the properties of all samples were investigated using an additional method of verification. The chemical characteristics were evaluated by FT-IR spectroscopy. The microstructures, pore sizes, pore distributions and surface areas of the pores were examined with image analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The densities were determined using the Archimedes’ method. The porosity and water absorption were also measured. The mechanical properties were investigated by using a compression testing machine.


2019 ◽  
pp. 089270571987822
Author(s):  
Saud Aldajah ◽  
Mohammad Y Al-Haik ◽  
Waseem Siddique ◽  
Mohammad M Kabir ◽  
Yousef Haik

This study reveals the enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties of maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP- g-MA) with the addition of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). A nanocomposite was manufactured by blending various percentages of PP, MA, and NCC nanoparticles by means of a twin-screw extruder. The influence of varying the percentages of NCC on the mechanical and thermal behavior of the nanocomposite was studied by performing three-point bending, nanoindentation, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy tests. The novelty of this study stems on the NCC nanoparticles and their ability to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of PP. Three-point bending and nanoindentation tests revealed improvement in the mechanical properties in terms of strength, modulus, and hardness of the PP- g-MA nanocomposites as the addition of NCC increased. SEM showed homogeneity between the mixtures which proved the presence of interfacial adhesion between the PP- g-MA incorporated with NCC nanoparticles that was confirmed by the FTIR results. DSC and TGA measurements showed that the thermal stability of the nanocomposites was not compromised due to the addition of the coupling agent and reinforced nanoparticles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3540
Author(s):  
Numfor Linda Bih ◽  
Assia Aboubakar Mahamat ◽  
Jechonias Bidossèssi Hounkpè ◽  
Peter Azikiwe Onwualu ◽  
Emmanuel E. Boakye

The quantity of polymer waste in our communities is increasing significantly. It is therefore necessary to consider reuse or recycling waste to avoid an increase in the risk to public health. This project is aimed at using pulverized low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste as a source to reinforce and improve compressive strength, and to reduce the water absorption of geopolymer ceramics (GC). Clay:LDPE composition consisting of 5%, 10%, and 15% LDPE was geopolymerized with an NaOH/Na2SiO3 solution and cured at 30 °C and 50 °C. Characterization of the geopolymer samples was carried out using XRF and XRD. The microstructure was analyzed by SEM and chemical bonding by FTIR. The SEM micrographs showed LDPE particle pull-out on the geopolymer ceramics’ fracture surface. The result showed that the compressive strength increases with the addition of pulverized polymer waste compared to the controlled without LDPE addition. Water absorption decreased with an increase in LDPE addition in the geopolymer ceramics composite.


2013 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 146-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiromi TSUJI ◽  
Ryu MURAKAMI ◽  
Takashi MIYAZAKI ◽  
Hideki HASHIMOTO ◽  
Teruaki DANNO ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 415-417 ◽  
pp. 1810-1815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Bing Liu ◽  
Qiang Tang ◽  
Shen Zhou Lu ◽  
Ceng Zhang ◽  
Ming Zhong Li

When the articular cartilage defect accompanies with the subchondral bone defect, using bilayer scaffolds which can integrate with surrounding host cartilage and bone tissue respectively as the tissue engineering scaffolds will be conducive to the repair of tissue defects. This paper reports a new method for preparing bilayer scaffolds. Firstly, hydroxyapatite (HA)/silk fibroin(SF) composite porous materials which have high porosity were prepared by a isostatic compaction molding method, then it was fully immersed in silk fibroin solution, and finally SF/HA bilayer scaffolds were obtained by freeze-drying. The structure of the bilayer scaffolds were investigated through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, electron excitation spectroscopy and electron microprobe. The results indicated that the upper layer of SF/HA bilayer scaffolds is porous SF component, the under layer is the porous HA/SF composite component and the interface of the two layer is closely connected. Furthermore, mesenchymal stem cells from mouse bone marrow were seeded into the bilayer scaffolds and the results showed that the cells had a well adhesion and growth after culturing for 3 days.


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