Patrick Bowen tracks the weight gain of a brick sample, part of his research to refine a new technique for dating old ceramics.
Posted on 01/19/2011 2:49:11 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Patrick Bowen, a senior majoring in materials science and engineering at Michigan Technological University, is refining a new way of dating ceramic artifacts that could one day shave thousands of dollars off the cost of doing archaeological research.
Called rehydroxylation dating, the technique was recently developed by researchers at the University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh. It takes advantage of ceramics' predictable tendency to bond chemically with water over time.
...First, dry the sample at 105 degrees Celcius. This removes any dampness that the ceramic might have absorbed.
Then, weigh the sample and put it in a furnace at 600 degrees Celsius. The chemically bonded water, in the form of hydroxyl groups (single atoms of hydrogen and oxygen bound together), forms water vapor and evaporates. "When you do that, you mimic what the sample was like when it was originally fired," says Bowen.
Then weigh the sample again and leave it alone. Over the next several weeks, the ceramic will react with water in the air and gain weight. Plot the gain against a time constant, and the shape of the curve tells you the age of the ceramic. Theoretically.
(Excerpt) Read more at mtu.edu ...
Patrick Bowen tracks the weight gain of a brick sample, part of his research to refine a new technique for dating old ceramics.
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A new way to date ceramics? Sorry, I prefer blonds.
“The Stepford Flowerpots”
Rehydroxlation dating could be to ceramics what carbon dating is to bone and wood
Its that pesky last bit that always leads to trouble....
Good luck Pat...now get out of the lab more.
re: way to date ceramics
I just turn the article upside down and check to see if there’s a date and maybe a name or initials there.
Sorry, I don’t date ceramics anymore after a flower pot broke my heart.
not sure i understand this. as the weight of water used in making would depend on the thrower,the humidity level etc?
Bwahaha!
Sorry i only date young ceramics....
From the 2010 Winter Carnival.
Yeah, I love that Winter Carnival, I look forward to that every July. ;’)
Also depends on whether they’re using dehydrated water. ;’)
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