Protection of glazed tiles in ancient buildings of China

Abstract

Silicon materials containing fluorine with similar nanoscale particles (SIC-1 and SIC-2) and organic silicon resin materials with excellent hydrophobicity (SIC-3) were selected to deal with glaze shedding and damage of glazed tiles in ancient buildings. Experimental analysis on the hydrophobic properties and microscopic morphology of the materials, as well as the changes of the surface temperature and the shedding rate of glaze layer after adding protective materials indicated: the thermal expansion differences and the shedding rate of glaze layer following sharp changes of temperature and humidity had been decreased. In particular, with the help of protective material SIC-2, a silicon material containing fluorine, there was the smallest change in the color of the glaze layer; the hydrophobic property and the water vapor transmittance of matrix were also improved. In a nutshell, the results showed that the addition of these protective materials alleviated the effects of radical temperature and humidity changes on glaze layer and matrix, and effectively delayed the occurrence of glaze shedding.