A Forward Recoil Energy Spectrometry (Fres) Test of Hydrogen Reduction as a Strategy for Firing of Chinese Ceramics

Abstract

We have investigated successfully the hydrogen concentration of samples of modern roof tile from the Shanghai Roof Tile and Brick Works. The intent of the investigation is to determine the applicability of ion beam analysis in the form of Forward Recoil Energy Spectrometry (FRES) to the analysis of the hydrogen content of the samples. We can measure hydrogen introduced during firing in modern bricks that we know were fired using hydrogen reduction. Completion of this feasilibity test allows us to propose sampling and testing ancient Chinese ceramics and to use the modern roof tile samples as a baseline for comparison.