The term ‘marble’ in eighteenth-century encyclopaedic literature: from colourful and exclusive to grainy and popular

This article reports on findings concerning the use and understanding of marble in the eighteenth century, as uncovered by a team of geologists and conservators at the Department of Engineering Technology at the Technical University of Munich. While researching a group of marble objects in Bayreuth in order to devise suitable conservation methods, it became apparent that the eighteenth-century understanding of ‘marble’ was different to how we define the stone today. This earlier definition of marble was based on colour, pattern and the ability to shine when polished. However, by the end of the eighteenth century, there was a shift to a focus on the different grain sizes of the stones, while the previously defining quality of colour became less important. Such developments advanced towards the recognition of limestone and marble as two different types, enabling the distinction between sedimentary limestone and its metamorphic product marble to be drawn in the first half of the nineteenth century. At the same time, the exploration of local sources caused the exclusivity of marble to dwindle. Once a building and decorative material for the elite, it now became more widely available. Marble was still the material of sovereigns - proudly presented as locally found - but it simultaneously became accessible to a wider market for household utensils or collectors’ items. This is demonstrated through the exploration of a range of German sources, including encyclopaedias and lexicons with their inherent aim of accumulating the universal knowledge of their time, a ‘marble’ compendium, and a description of the prison and workhouse in St Georgen in Bayreuth, which had marble works on its premises.

Combined Effect of Superabsorbent Polymers and Cellulose Fibers on Functional Performance of Plasters

Plaster has, from ancient times, been used as a decorative material. However, the advances in materials engineering such as thermal and moisture control provide new opportunities. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) have been found to possess passive moisture control that may find utilization in modern buildings. However, the main drawback is associated with a limited number of applicable SAPs due to mechanical strength loss. In this regard, concurrent utilization of cellulose fibers may provide additional benefits linked with the reinforcing of plaster structure and preservation of superior hygric properties. In this regard, this study investigates the combined effect of SAP and cellulose fibers on the material properties of cement-lime plaster in terms of its mechanic, thermal, and hygric properties. To access the capability of such modified plasters to control the interior moisture fluctuations, the moisture buffering value is determined. Obtained results show the effect of both applied admixtures on material performance, whilst the synergic effect was most obvious for humidity control accessed through the moisture buffer coefficient.

Two pedestal Tables by Jean-Charles-François Leloy in the Royal Collections of Patrimonio Nacional

The aim of this paper is to provide an in-depth information of two pedestal tables (named Table du Sacre and Guéridon Mauresque) designed by Leloy, and kept in the royal collections of Patrimonio Nacional (National Heritage). Despite their differences, they both have some elements in common: not only Sèvres porcelain was used as their main decorative material offering painted historical scenes, but also both of them were gifts from French sovereigns to Spanish monarchs. The two pieces were also displayed in the 19th century at the Louvre Royale Manufactures Exhibitions as an example of the high quality that the Sèvres Manufacture achived. Although the Table du Sacre (table of coronation due to its iconography) is of great interest, the decoration of the Guéridon Mauresque is specially remarkable as it provides an interesting insight between courts. It depicts Boabdil leaving the Alhambra, being directly inspired by the Nasrid Palace (15th century): a piece of furniture depicting a scene of the Spanish Moorish past, was made in France and later offered as a gift to the regent of the Spanish Kingdom María Cristina de Borbón.

Study on the photoelectrical performance of anodized titanium sheets

Anodization is a widely used method to obtain multicoloured oxidized titanium sheets. However, most researchers paid great attention to the colour-related properties instead of photoelectrical properties of titanium oxide film obtained by anodization. In this work, to study their photoelectrical properties, a series of multicoloured oxidized titanium sheets were prepared by anodization method, and UV–vis absorption and photocurrents were tested. The relationship between anodization voltages/anodization durations and photocurrents of titanium sheets was studied. Results show that titanium sheets have excellent photoelectrical performance. With the increase of anodization voltage, the number of UV–vis absorption peaks increased under visible light which means increasing absorption. When anodization duration increased, absorption band edge also increased in the visible light region, which means the band gap needed to produce charge transfer transition decreased. Under simulated sunlight and applied voltage of +0.4 V, photocurrent increased with the increase of either anodization voltage or anodization duration, and can be expressed by linear equations. In addition, anodization currents were recorded during anodization. Morphology, crystal structure and photoelectrical properties of anodized titanium sheets were characterized. The anodized titanium sheets can not only be used as decorative material in jewellery and architecture fields etc. but also are supposed to be used as photoelectrical catalyst in further work.

Calculation of Linear Attenuation Coefficients of Algerian Silica Sand (ASS)

Radiation is an important phoneme and thus radiation shielding is one of the most popular subjects for researchers. Sand is the main materials to produce besides many things also construction materials. It may also be used as a decorative material and therefore it is important to know its radiation shielding parameters. In this study, linear attenuation coefficients of Algerian Silica Sand (ASS) were calculated using computer code of XCOM for 1 keV—100 GeV gamma energies.

THE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION OF PASURUAN LOCAL CULTURE AS MOBILE INTERACTIVE LEARNING MEDIA OF DECORATIVE MATERIAL IN PASURUAN

The increase use of technology in daily life needs the development of leaning media which utilizes technology as well. The use of mobile phones is increasing among students and the use of inappropriate makes the device as a medium of entertainment. It needs a learning media using mobile phones in the form of applications. There is lack of applications with the theme of education in accordance with learning. Mobile phones are not used as learning media by teachers and students. The reverence of learning material and learning media makes research on technology education need to be raised as a matter of matter in the field. The development of the local cultural application of Pasuruan has become one of the mobile interactive learning media that can be used as a medium for learning revision in and outside the school. The development process is carried out through the 4D stages, which are define, design, develop and dessemine. Based on the results of the research, it can be seen that there is the effectiveness of learning to use learning media applications. In addition, the results of the validator shows decent results as products which can be used. The respond of teacher and student show satisfied result in using Pasuruan local culture application as learning media.

Plastics: physical-and-mechanical properties and biodegradable potential

Introduction. Processing agricultural waste into plant biodegradable plastics is a promising way for its recycling. This work featured the main physical-and-mechanical properties of plant plastics without adhesive substances obtained from millet husk and wheat husk and wood plastic obtained from sawdust, as well as their biodegradation potential. Study objects and methods. Objects of the study were plastics without adhesives based on wood sawdust, millet husk, and wheat husk. Results and discussion. We analyzed of the physical-and-mechanical parameters of the plant plastic based on millet husk, wheat husk, as well as wood plastic based on sawdust. The analysis showed that, in general, the strength characteristics of the wood plastics were higher than those of the plastics based on millet husk, especially flexural strength. Thus, the average value of the density of the wood plastic exceeded that of the plant plastic from millet husk by 10%, hardness by 40%, compression elasticity modulus by 50%, and flexural modulus by 3.9 times. It was found that wood and plant plastics obtained from sawdust, millet husk, and wheat husk without adhesives had a high biodegradation potential. Conclusion. The plastics obtained can be used as an insulating, building, and decorative material in the steppe regions experiencing a shortage of wood and wood powder.

FACING AND DECORATIVE MATERIALS BASED ON GLASS DOMESTIC WASTE

The areas of use of glass domestic waste in the building materials industry are considered. The possibility of obtaining a facing and decorative material-smalt based on colored container and high-quality glass is considered. An innovative technology has been developed for the production of smalt based on finely ground powders of colored container glass using 20%, 40% and 60% liquid glass as a humidifier. The dependences of the influence of various concentrations of aqueous solutions of liquid glass on the degree of compaction of smalt are established. It is shown that the addition of aqueous solutions of liquid glass to the glass powder before pressing reduces the firing temperature from 775 to 725 ° C. the influence of different concentrations of aqueous solution of liquid glass in the initial charges on the chemical composition of the smalt is investigated. The elemental composition of smalt is studied using the x-ray fluorescence method. The microstructure of smalt made from a mixture with an optimum content of 40% aqueous solution of water glass is investigated. The effect of various concentrations of liquid glass on the microhardness of smalt is provided. It is shown that when the content of 40% liquid glass in an aqueous solution, the microhardness reaches maximum values.

Determination of Photon Attenuation Coefficients of Steel Doped Barite Plasters

The plaster is used as a flattening of the interior and exterior surfaces of the buildings and as decorative material. In this study, photon attenuation coefficients of barite plaster containing steel were measured. The measurements performed at 511, 835 and 1275 keV which are obtained from 22Na and 54Mn radioactive sources, using a gamma spectrometer that contains a NaI(Tl) detector and MCA. The measured results were compared with the calculation obtained using computer code of XCOM for 1 keV–1 GeV gamma energies. Also, half value layer (HVL) and tenth value layer (TVL) were calculated using the results obtained from the experimental measurement.