| Abstract Scope |
Low-fired pottery, such as earthenware, has historically suffered from a range of conservation problems due to its poor mechanical properties, originating from its highly porous nature. For example, in humid environments, earthenware can retain salts within its pores, which can cause the object to deteriorate. This behavior paired with the possibility of rehydroxylation (conversion of earthenware into a clay-like material within humid/acidic environments) make it difficult to study earthenware, and heat treatments are sometimes necessary to handle and analyze objects. Consequently, the community lacks an in-depth mechanistic understanding of how earthenware degrades in acidic environments. The work presented here is the first study to experimentally and theoretically investigate the degradation of kaolinite and metakaolin in sulfuric acid environments, providing insight into to how sulfur-containing adsorbents interact with earthenware fired past 500°C, causing dealumination. Additionally, we examine how variables such as porosity, humidity, and pH impact potential conservation protocols of earthenware. |