Research into water-soluble salts in efflorescent pottery during long-term storage in a museum

• DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2014.09.003
• Publication Date: 2014-09-16T00:26:48Z
• Authors: Pujun Jin; Weiqiang Zhang; Quanjun Wang; Xiaogang Yang; Sheng Sun; Xiaopan Fan; Bin Li
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Abstract Ancient pottery stored in northern Chinese museums is apt to powder during long-term storage. A detailed investigation of the efflorescent products of such pottery was performed to shed light on the role of water-soluble salts, a type of curing-salt-laden colloidal substance that shows smooth edges and shrinkage holes containing Cl − , NO 2 − , NO 3 − , SO 4 2− , Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , etc., in pottery efflorescence. For comparison, recent specimens of pottery, buried soil and storeroom dust were characterised as well, demonstrating that, in this samples, water-soluble salts mainly originated from the surrounding atmosphere.