Multi-Methodical Study of Early Modern Age Archaeological Glazed Ceramics from Prague

A series of scientific methods (X-ray analyses, optical and electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and thermal analyses) was used to research the ceramic bodies and glazes of forty vessels from Renaissance Prague. The set of Early Modern Age archaeological glazed ceramics contained tableware, kitchenware and technical ceramics. The main aim was to characterise ceramic materials and glazes used over two centuries. Attention was also paid to the identification of defects and corrosion products of the glazes. The research was conducted with an emphasis on the context of the original use of the ceramic artefacts and the environment of the waste pits from which they were excavated. The archaeological finds include three technical ceramic vessels (a rectifier, a bowl and a jar), which together could have formed a distillation apparatus. Since these vessels represent a rare finding, they were subjected to a detailed investigation. Based on the similarity of ceramic bodies and glazes, it was proved that the three technical ceramic vessels were made in the same workshop and were parts of one distillation apparatus. The results of the performed analyses determined that the studied vessels were manufactured from raw materials with a high content of a plastic component and that the raw materials did not change significantly during the period from the 15th to 18th centuries. The firing temperature of most of the vessels did not exceed 1000 °C. It was proved that all the glazes were medium- or high-lead content glazes and were coloured with ionic pigments.

Multi-methodical study of Early Modern Age archaeological glazed ceramics from Prague

A series of scientific methods (X-ray analyses, optical and electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and thermal analyses) was used to research the ceramic bodies and glazes of forty vessels from Renaissance Prague. The set of Early Modern Age archaeological glazed ceramics contained tableware, kitchenware and technical ceramics. The main aim was to characterise ceramic materials and glazes used over two centuries. Attention was also paid to the identification of defects and corrosion products of the glazes. The research was conducted with an emphasis on the context of the original use of the ceramic artefacts and the environment of the waste pits from which they were excavated. The archaeological finds include three technical ceramic vessels (a rectifier, a bowl and a jar), which together could have formed a distillation apparatus. Since these vessels represent a rare finding, they were subjected to a detailed investigation. Based on the similarity of ceramic bodies and glazes, it was proved that the three technical ceramic vessels were made in the same workshop and were parts of one distillation apparatus. The results of the performed analyses determined that the studied vessels were manufactured from raw materials with a high content of a plastic component and that the raw materials did not change significantly during the period from the 15th to 18th centuries. The firing temperature of most of the vessels did not exceed 1000 °C. It was proved that all the glazes were medium- or high-lead content glazes and were coloured with ionic pigments.

Mechanisms of technical ceramic density adjusting

In this paper authors overviewed the most important stages of ceramics production process which give significant influence on final properties of product. Often density and porosity on the all producing stages determines exploitation ceramics properties. A calculation method for fractions ratio selection which provides optimal density is suggested here. Also, density changes during operations of grinding, forming, thermal treatment and sintering a row of specimens are researched and analysed. The data received allow to predict semi products size behaviour while producing and get definite final part with dimension required.

Preparation and Properties of β/α SiC Composite Ceramics

In this paper, the production of high-performance β/α SiC composite ceramics technology as the goal, by measuring density, we can optimize and determine the best technical ceramic formulations. Because a small amount of β-SiC in α-SiC,the sintered ceramic appeared long axis-like crystals, indicating fracture mode changes from the original transgranular fracture to transgranular fracture mainly and intergranular fracture supplement. The results show that, when added in an amount of 10% β-SiC, SiC ceramics having the best performance.

Automatic Casting of Advanced Technical Ceramic Parts via Open Source High Resolution 3D Printing Machines

The development of open source 3D printers and the continuously growing utilization of ceramic compounds in the field of medicine among others, meet in the possibility to adapt these machines in a way to permit better controlling, high resolution, automatic, printing of scaffolds, spacers and other 3D parts not possible without this kind of machines and technology. Due to the large number of applications inside the field of medicine it is required a high capacity to create structures that can reach the needs in each case. Furthermore, the possibility to modify easily and quickly these structures as the tests are being done is also very interesting for investigation. These machines allow, thanks to its open source nature, these features and more as they are not closed to changes in order to meet the needs of its users. Therefore, the focus of the present work has been to materialize and improve a head extruder for Advanced Technical Ceramics Compounds. The tests undertaken and the results outcome demonstrate the feasibility of the technology for being applied in such mentioned cases as well as the improvement on the solutions (initial and improvements) for producing automatic casting.