Abstract
The application of microbalance measurements to investigate the chemical recombination of moisture with fired clay ceramics is demonstrated. The kinetics of mass gain at constant temperature and relative humidity (RH) are studied for terracotta fired at temperatures between 800 °C and 1200 °C. The experimental results show that mass gain proceeds in two stages. The second stage mass gain is taken as a measure of the capacity for long-term chemical combination with moisture based on the (time) 1/4 law. A maximum rate of mass gain is obtained for terracotta fired at 1000 °C. It is shown that reheating a sample of fired terracotta at any temperature between 500 °C and the original firing temperature will return the material to its as-fired state. This is supported by Raman spectroscopy. Exceeding the original firing temperature during reheating alters the subsequent rate of reaction to moisture, suggesting a method for determining the original firing temperature of ceramic artefacts.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
