The Laboratory of Glass and Ceramics (UCT) is focused on evaluation of glasses and ceramic materials and research activities are based on a combination of material analyses (especially SEM-EDS, XRD, XRF, optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy), thermal analyses (STA with MS, dilatometry) and temperature-dependent material characterization (high-temperature FTIR, high-temperature impulse excitation). Important activities are the development of new methods for the identification of degradation processes in surface layers of glasses, glazes and decors, ageing studies of ceramic shards and the prediction of the stability of glazes on ceramics. The conditions and research outputs are conducted to be effectively used in the field of conservation and restoration of glass and ceramics. The laboratory offers the following research services:
- identification of sources of deterioration of both ceramic shards and surface coatings and decors of archaeological ceramic finds
- identification of sources of raw clay materials in terms of clay mineral content and degree of rehydroxylation of low-fired ceramics
- determination of stress relations between ceramic shards and surface coatings (glaze/engobe) and prediction of long-term stability of two- or three-component systems
- identification of types of ceramic bodies and glazes
- classification of historical glasses according to their composition
- study of the corrosion processes, determination of the degree of surface damage
- study of the surface layers (e.g. painting on glass).
Recent Comments