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FTIR, XRD, EDAX and hardness test – An integrated approach to explore the elemental composition of archaeological and contemporary ceramic samples
Date Issued
01-01-2022
Author(s)
Abstract
The current work is an attempt to analyse the elemental composition of three pottery samples belonging to different periods in the timeline of human civilization. Sample A belongs to 200 BCE, Sample B to 400 CE and C is a present-day sample. FTIR, XRD and EDAX techniques were used to find the different elements present in the samples. Study of prominent peaks in the FTIR spectra of the samples showed silica and iron as the main constituent in the samples. Presence of Si-O peaks also helps to determine, albeit approximately, the sintering temperature of the pottery shards. XRD pattern revealed the presence of quartz as the predominant mineral in all the three samples, along with feldspar minerals like albite and orthoclase. From the diffraction peaks in the XRD spectra, lattice parameters of the elements present in the pottery shards were calculated. From the EDAX spectra of the samples, Sample A was found to contain the elements Cr, Cu and Cl in addition to Si, O, iron which are present in all the three samples. In order to analyse the stability of the ancient pottery shards, their tensile strength was determined using the Vicker's microhardness test and the results were compared.
Volume
68