Posted on 02/27/2005 10:59:51 AM PST by blam
Test shows sticky porridge used to cement ancient Chinese wall
www.chinaview.cn 2005-02-27 20:56:07
XI'AN, Feb. 27 (Xinhuanet)-- The legend that ancient Chinese craftsmen used glutinous rice porridge in the mortar while building ramparts has been verified by archaeological research in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
In a recent maintenance to the ancient city wall of Xi'an, the provincial capital, workers discovered that the plaster remnants on the ancient bricks were quite hard to remove, said Qin Jianming,a researcher with the Xi'an Preservation and Restoration Center ofCultural Relics.
A chemical test showed that the mortar reacted the same as glutinous rice to the reagent. And infrared spectral analysis alsoshowed that the mortar displayed similar molecule structure to glutinous rice.
"Thus we can conclude that the sticky material was in the mortar," Qin said.
The use of this sticky material, Qin said, helps explain why many ancient Chinese brick structures are still standing.
The walls of Xi'an, the capital of China during several kingdoms and dynasties, were built in the early years of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The construction was based on wall relics of the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907).
The 13.74-kilometer, 12-meter high ancient wall, which still encircles central Xi'an, is well preserved today.
It is said that ancient construction workers used glutinous rice porridge when building the Great Wall more than 2,000 years ago.
Qin said that the new finding is useful in further study of ancient Chinese brick constructions. Enditem
Maybe it serves the same purpose as the adhesion additives that are sometimes added to mortar and concrete mixtures here in the states. I don't know the exact formulation, but it looks and smells exactly like plain old Elmer's white glue. The additive, the instructions say, helps the mortar or cement stick to existing masonry work. I suppose it seeps into microscopic voids in the surfaces of existing masonry planes and creates a mechanical bond. In the old days, bricklayers and cement workers would mix a thin concoction of cement and water and paint it into crevices and pockets of existing structures before troweling in the concrete or mortar as the project dictated. That would be my guess.
Sounds like a good guess to me, lol!
Here's something in a similar grain derived application:
"Z-Bind as a concrete glue extender: The Z-Bind market expands further in applications beyond wood composites as an extender in polymer concrete.
FiberGel's Z-Bind is a ligno-cellulosic, phenol-formaldehyde resin extender, low solids but high viscosity glue made from corn bran. Even at 10%, a Z-Bind application along with traditional flour has been found to account for better than average strength properties of finished exterior plywood. Z-Bind has lignin from corn bran in addition to soluble fiber glue. It is compatible with lignin and tannin modified glues. Z-Bind by and in itself is an organic composite of starch dextrins, corn protein zein which has a long history of adhesives and coatings use, and the a cellulosics from corn bran."
http://www.crgq.com/zbind/about.html
The lowest bidder strikes again!
Hmmm...wonder if would work on the stuff my boys are always breaking around the house, lol!
Thanks for sharing. :)
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
I have never seen rice paste. Where did you get it? What can you use it for?
Wonder how it would work on roads. Something has to be better than the stuff they use now. In Wisconsin the roads are often a mess from buckling during weather changes and lots of pot holes that they are always having to fill in. Much of the time a road will go for years before it is repaired when it needs it. I think it might be a rip off scheme from the construction companies to keep them in constant work while they suck up our tax dollars. Sometimes the lowest bid is not the best idea if it means inferior product is used.
You put salt on the roads there don't you? I would suspect it's the salt.
I use mine for crafts...but rice paste & tissue paper are also great for mending books and documents because it's invisible when dry but very strong. Curators use it.
I ordered mine (Nori) from Lee Valley Tools, a woodworkers specialty catalog, but many craft stores and most art supply houses carry it.
It's supposed to be really easy to make, too... if you do a search for rice paste you'll find recipes online.
Rice paste glue has numerous uses.. here's a weird one..
Japanese "ninja" would prepare smoke and dust "bombs" by filling eggs with their various powder concoctions..
The hole in the eggs would then be covered with rice paper dipped in rice paste, which would be just as durable as the egg shell itself..
I have also read of rice paste being used in japanese woodworks, such as cabinet work and furniture joints..
Let me guess, they used Fruitcake for the blocks...
LOL. If so, that wall's NEVER comin' down. Maybe NASA should check into fruitcake applications...like using slices of it for heat tile replacements on The Shuttle or something.
Bump.
WestTexasWend, do you know if rice paste is H2O proof?
The salt doesn't help but the drastic changes in weather really reek havoc on the roads. They expand and contract and break up. The sidewalks fare better than the roads as they have made into them that take up some of the pressure by building them with the separating cracks in them. After big weather changes many roads have problems and they have to go around with tar and fill in the cracks and pot holes in the next day or so. You have to pay close attention when you drive if you don't want to damage your car. I think it is a matter of bad material too.
I don't believe it's waterproof...I'll try to check into that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
