scholarly journals Egyptian Blue Pellets from the First Century BCE Workshop of Kos (Greece): Microanalytical Investigation by Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy-X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Micro-Raman Spectroscopy

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1063
Author(s):  
Ariadne Kostomitsopoulou Marketou ◽  
Fabrizio Andriulo ◽  
Calin Steindal ◽  
Søren Handberg

This paper aims to expand our understanding of the processes involved in the production of the artificial pigment Egyptian blue through the scientific examination of pigments found in the first century BCE workshop of the Greek island of Kos. There, 136 Egyptian blue pellets were brought to light, including successfully produced pellets, as well as partially successful and unsuccessful products. This study is based on the examination of eighteen samples obtained from pellets of various textures and tones of blue, including light and dark blue pigments, coarse and fine-grained materials, and one unsuccessful pellet of dark green/grey colour. The samples were examined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and micro-Raman spectroscopy. These complementary microanalytical techniques provide localised information about the chemical and mineralogical composition of this multicomponent material, at a single-grain level. The results shed light on the firing procedure and indicate possible sources for raw materials (beach sand, copper alloys), as well as demonstrating the use of a low-alkali starting mixture. Moreover, two different process for the production of light blue pigments were identified: (a) decreased firing time and (b) grinding of the initially produced pellet and mixing with cobalt-containing material.

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 2050-2054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcello Gombos ◽  
Vicente Gomis ◽  
Anna Esther Carrillo ◽  
Antonio Vecchione ◽  
Sandro Pace ◽  
...  

In this work, we report on the observation of Nd1Ba6Cu3O10,5 (Nd163) phase of the NdBaCuO system in melt-textured Nd123 bulk samples grown from a mixture of Nd123 and Nd210 phase powders. The observation was performed with polarized light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive x-ray analyses. Images of the identified phase crystals show an aspect quite different from Nd422 crystals. Unexpectedly, Nd163 was individuated, even in “pure” Nd123 samples. Moreover, after long exposure to air, Nd163 disappeared completely in samples synthesized from powders containing Nd210. Thermogravimetry analyses of powders show that the stability of this phase in air is limited to temperatures higher than 900 °C, so Nd163 is unstable and highly reactive at room temperature. Moreover, an explanation of the observation of Nd163 in Nd210 free samples, based on the spontaneous formation of Nd163 phase in a Nd123 melt, is proposed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-136
Author(s):  
Bozidar Cekic ◽  
Valentin Ivanovski ◽  
Aleksandar Djordjevic ◽  
Velimir Aleksic ◽  
Zorica Tomic ◽  
...  

The paper addresses the issue of health risk associated with the presence of chrysotile in the soil type ranker formed on massive serpentines occurring in the area of Bubanj Potok, a settlement located in the southern Belgrade environs, Serbia. Characterization of the ranker soil was conducted by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy and transmission 57Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy figures showed regular shaped smectite (montmorillonite) particles, aggregates of chlorite, and elongated sheets of serpentines minerals antigorite. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of detrital mineral quartz polymorph as well as minor amounts of other mineral species. Micro-Raman spectroscopy identified the presence of dominant minerals, such as montmorillonite, kaolinite, muscovite, gypsum, calcite, albite, amphiboles (hornblende/kaersutite) and orthoclase. Important polymorph silica modifications of quartz, olivine (forsterite), pyroxene (enstatite/ferrosilite, diopside/hedenbergite), and serpentine (antigorite/lizardite/chrysotile) were identified.


2011 ◽  
Vol 311-313 ◽  
pp. 864-870
Author(s):  
Gen Zhe Huang ◽  
Zeng Hui Li

In the present work, effects of elements vanadium and niobium on the microstructure of the conventional indefinite chilled rolls made by small vertical centrifugal caster were investigated, using optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM, Jeol 6400), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDXS, Cu-K radiation) to identify the type, morphology, and to measure the volume fraction and the distribution of carbides and graphites formed during solidification. Microstructural analysis indicates that, the amount of graphite is dramatically reduced by adding V element. The volume fraction of the square-like carbides NbC increases with the Nb content increasing. However, if Nb content is over a critical point, large amount of the square-like NbC carbide can be seriously segregated in the out part of the section.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Tsutomu Uchida ◽  
Wataru Shigeyama ◽  
Ikumi Oyabu ◽  
Kumiko Goto-Azuma ◽  
Fumio Nakazawa ◽  
...  

Abstract Tiny samples of ancient atmosphere in air bubbles within ice cores contain argon (Ar), which can be used to reconstruct past temperature changes. At a sufficient depth, the air bubbles are compressed by the overburden pressure under low temperature and transform into air-hydrate crystals. While the oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2) molecules have indeed been identified in the air-hydrate crystals with Raman spectroscopy, direct observational knowledge of the distribution of Ar at depth within ice sheet and its enclathration has been lacking. In this study, we applied scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to five air-hydrate crystals in the Greenland NEEM ice core, finding them to contain Ar and N. Given that Ar cannot be detected by Raman spectroscopy, the method commonly used for O2 and N2, the SEM-EDS measurement method may become increasingly useful for measuring inert gases in deep ice cores.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 2855
Author(s):  
Mohammad H. AlRefeai ◽  
Eman M. AlHamdan ◽  
Samar Al-Saleh ◽  
Abdulaziz S. Alqahtani ◽  
Mohammad Q. Al-Rifaiy ◽  
...  

The study aimed at synthesizing β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) nanoparticles and comparing the mechanical properties and dentin interaction of two adhesives: experimental adhesive (EA) and EA with 5 wt.% β-TCP nanoparticles (β-TCP-5%). These filler nanoparticles were synthesized and then characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The β-TCP nanoparticles were incorporated in the adhesives to form two groups: gp-1: EA (control) and gp-2: β-TCP-5%. These adhesives were characterized by SEM, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and were also assessed for their micro-tensile bond strength (μTBS) with (TC) and without thermocycling (NTC). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed to evaluate the degree of conversion (DC) of two adhesives. The β-TCP filler was seen as irregularly shaped agglomerates on SEM. The micro-Raman spectra revealed characteristic peaks associated with β-TCP nanoparticles. Both adhesives presented suitable dentin interaction, which was demonstrated by the formation of resin tags of variable depths. The EDX analysis verified the existence of calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) for the β-TCP-5% group. The greatest μTBS values were shown by β-TCP-5% group samples when they were non-thermocycled (NTC) (β-TCP-5%-NTC: 34.11 ± 3.46) followed by the thermocycled (TC) samples of the same group (β-TCP-5%-TC: 30.38 ± 3.66), compared with the EA group. Although the DC presented by β-TCP-5% group was comparable to the EA group, it was still lower. The addition of β-TCP nanoparticles in the adhesive improved its μTBS and resulted in a suitable dentin interaction, seen in the form of hybrid layer and resin tag formation. Nonetheless, a decreased DC was observed for the β-TCP-5% adhesive. Future studies probing the effect of different filler concentrations on various properties of the adhesive are warranted.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 928-932
Author(s):  
Agripina Zaharia ◽  
Viorica Ghisman Plescan ◽  
Elena Maria Anghel ◽  
Viorica Musat

The purpose of this work is to induce biomimetic remineralization of acid etched coronal human dentine in artificial saliva (AS) under agarose (A) hydrogel or chitosan (CS)-A hydrogel action. The investigations focused on the morphology, chemical composition and crystalline structure of the new remineralized layers grown onto the etched dentinal surface (R) using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Experimental results showed that remineralized layers grown in the presence of A or CS-A hydrogels consist in B-type Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite (HAP). After 7 days treatment into artificial saliva under agarose hydrogel, nanorod-like extrafibrilar HAP crystals randomly self-assembled in a discontinuous layer were formed, while in presence of chitosan-agarose hydrogel a continuous compact CS-HAP composite layer was obtained. The new biomimetic layer (A-CS4) formed after 4 days on dentine surface under A-CS hydrogel has higher crystallinity. Longer exposed (7 days) dentine in the presence of agarose hydrogel shows a higher mineral-to-collagen ratio (A7). Since dentine mineralization increases, the collagen quality factor decreases in succession A-CS4]R]A7. Results show a benefic effect of chitosan on remineralization of etched dentine.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 495-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan A. Almarshad ◽  
Sayed M. Badawy ◽  
Abdalkarem F. Alsharari

Aim and Objective: Formation of the gallbladder stones is a common disease and a major health problem. The present study aimed to identify the structures of the most common types of gallbladder stones using X-ray spectroscopic techniques, which provide information about the process of stone formation. Material and Method: Phase and elemental compositions of pure cholesterol and mixed gallstones removed from gallbladders of patients were studied using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy combined with scanning electron microscopy analysis and X-ray diffraction. Results: The crystal structures of gallstones which coincide with standard patterns were confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Plate-like cholesterol crystals with laminar shaped and thin layered structures were clearly observed for gallstone of pure cholesterol by scanning electron microscopy; it also revealed different morphologies from mixed cholesterol stones. Elemental analysis of pure cholesterol and mixed gallstones using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the different formation processes of the different types of gallstones. Conclusion: The method of fast and reliable X-ray spectroscopic techniques has numerous advantages over the traditional chemical analysis and other analytical techniques. The results also revealed that the X-ray spectroscopy technique is a promising technique that can aid in understanding the pathogenesis of gallstone disease.


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