Sklářský výrobní okruh z 2. poloviny 13. století u Jilmové v Krušných horách Přínos analytických metod pro poznání technologie výroby středověkého skla v Čechách / The glass production area near Jilmová in the Ore Mountains from the second half of the 13th century The contribution of analytical methods for studying glass production technology in medieval Bohemia

The study contains the latest knowledge concerning glass production at the beginning of the High Middle Ages in one of the oldest glass production areas in the Ore Mountains consisting of three glassworks located in the upper reaches of the mountains. The work presents archaeological sources obtained in excavations at the Jilmová I, II and III sites, with attention being focused on finds specific to glass production centres, i.e., mainly fragments of technical ceramics – melting pots, crucibles and the waste accompanying various stages of glass production. The classic typological­morphological analysis is accompanied by a detailed archaeometric analysis. The results of spectrometric analyses (XRF, XRD, SEM–EDS and LA–ICP–MS) expand the informative value of archaeological finds and help refine existing knowledge of glass production technology in the second half of the 13th century.

Special Device for Diamond Grinding of the Backup Surfaces and Perimeter of Articles from Nonmetallic Ceramic Materials

In developed countries, material scientists are working intensively to create high-strength (metallic) technical ceramics. If such a material is created, it will be possible to manufacture such parts of power units (transmissions) of cars as shafts, turbines, etc. In the future, the latest composite ceramic materials with unique properties will gradually replace metals in the production of machine parts. Special device for diamond grinding of articles from composite, non-metallic, brittle materials (technical ceramics on the base of SiC, Al2O3; polycrystalline diamond, composite – Si + SiC + diamond etc.) is a universal flat grinding machine that enables to grind with high productivity both supporting main surfaces and lateral side surfaces – perimeter of an article of prismatic shape. It is also possible to grind substrates of other configurations – round, oval, etc. Grinding depending on sizes of articles can be done of both single and group of articles. The grinding takes place by the means of spring feeding of the article by pneumatic system that enables to prevent breakage of articles from brittle non-metallic materials in process of machining and obtain maximum high quality of the machined surface.

Improving Sustainability of Technical Ceramics Production: Synergistic Approach

Sustainable development is a concept focused on preserving current resources for them to be available to future generations as well, while at the same time fulfilling current human needs and facilitating adequate levels of development. Nowadays, there are many possible applications of sustainability principles, such as in the fields of the economy, agriculture, environment, energy, transport, architecture, and production. Sustainable production of materials and goods aims at improving the processes which are less damaging to the environment, which conserve natural resources and use low levels of energy, possibly derived from sustainable sources. One of the intensive energy- and resource-consuming industries is the conventional production of technical ceramics. Although non-toxic, ceramic waste is generated during the machining of the green bodies and is typically landfilled. To improve the sustainability of technical ceramics production, methods of recycling ceramic waste need to be developed and applied. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.