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Ancient Roman nano-technology: Insight into the manufacture of mosaic tesserae opacified by calcium antimonate

Authors :
Lothar Wondraczek
Ferdinand Drünert
Nikolaos Zacharias
E. Palamara
Doris Möncke
Source :
Journal of the European Ceramic Society. 38:4799-4805
Publication Year :
2018
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2018.

Abstract

Opaque mosaic glass tesserae containing calcium antimonates from Ancient Messene, Greece (1st–4th century CE) were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Both trigonal CaSb2O6 and cubic Ca2Sb2O7, with crystallite diameters below 1 μm, were identified as opacifying agents. To better understand ancient technologies, we prepared model glasses that were opacified by crystallisation via a secondary heat treatment, by direct crystallisation during the melting process, or by the addition of pre-reacted calcium antimonate to a base glass. We found that direct crystallisation replicated the antique glass artefacts most accurately. We demonstrated that 0.2 wt% of nucleating agents like TiO2 and SnO2 already exert significant influence on the crystallisation behaviour of calcium antimonates. Secondary scattering centres such as silica and carbonates contribute to the optical appearance. Concurrently, we reproduced opaque white glass ceramics in a reconstructed, wood-fired, Roman-type glass furnace built by Wiesenberg (2014).

Details

ISSN :
09552219
Volume :
38
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of the European Ceramic Society
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........91f8dbaad13a3682b681705ad81d43e5
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2018.06.031