Abstract
Glass is usually opacified by small crystalline particles, called opacifiers, dispersed in the translucent vitreous matrix. To understand the glassmaking conditions used to produce calcium antimonate opacified glass, the in situ crystallization process has been studied through synthetic glasses made in the laboratory. The effects of the nature and the concentration of the antimony source, the temperature and the duration of heat-treatments on the calcium antimonates crystallization have been tested. The physico-chemical characteristics of these glasses were compared to Roman mosaic tesserae from Aquilea and Rome (1st cent. B.C.–6th cent. A.D.). We show that the glass composition (EDX), the microstructure (SEM-BSE, imaging treatment), the oxidation state of antimony in the vitreous matrices (μ-XANES) and the proportion of the crystalline phases (XRD with Rietveld refinement) are suitable parameters to assess glassmaking conditions used in ancient times. We demonstrate that opaque Roman glasses were obtained by in situ crystallization, probably using roasted stibnite Sb2O4 and by doing heat-treatment between 1 or 2 days.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: 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.