Aging study on the modern imitation glaze and ancient glaze of the Ming and Qing dynasties based on FTIR decomposition spectra

Abstract The lime alkaline glaze, originated as early as 1300A.D, is typical of Chinese ancient transparent ceramic glaze in the dynasties of Yuan, Ming, and Qing. Imitation transparent glaze with the composition identical to that of the ancient glaze in the Ming and Qing dynasties was prepared at five different firing temperatures. FTIR spectra of the imitation glaze were analyzed by means of mathematical self-deconvolution, and the assignment of each component band was identified, showing that the glaze, with the increase of firing temperature, presented a higher level of polymerization degree in its network. Imitation glazes were artificially aged through water corrosion and annealing. FTIR decomposition spectra of aged glazes indicate that some silicon-bridging oxygen- silicon bonds were hydrolyzed during water corrosion, and that silicon-non-bridging oxygen-alkali bonds increased during low-temperature anneal. Finally, the FTIR results obtained from the artificial aged glazes were compared with those of the ancient glaze of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and aging condition of ancient glazes were inferred.