1. Raman and SEM Studies of Man-made Barium Copper Silicate Pigments in Ancient Chinese Artifacts
- Author
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Qinglin Ma, Armin Portmann, Ferdinand Wild, and Heinz Berke
- Subjects
Scanning electron microscope ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Mineralogy ,Barium ,Conservation ,Bead ,Copper ,eye diseases ,Silicate ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Pigment ,symbols.namesake ,chemistry ,visual_art ,Microscopy ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,symbols ,Raman spectroscopy ,Nuclear chemistry - Abstract
Ancient Chinese objects from the eighth to the third centuries BC were studied by Raman microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX). They included blue glassy faience beads, blue or purple beads of vitreous sinter material high in lead and barium, earrings and octagonal sticks. Man-made Han blue (BaCuSi4O10) and Han purple (BaCuSi2O6 ) were identified by Raman microscopy, as was ultramarine blue in two faience beads. SEM-EDX studies on the compact bodies of one bead and one octagonal stick revealed vitreous and crystalline phases, the latter with the approximate composition (BaO)n·(CuO)m·2SiO2, n, m = 1 or 2. All objects were found to contain varying amounts of lead.
- Published
- 2006
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