Chapter 45 What, didn't you hear me?
"Yes, Dean, the key is with me!"
"Oh, Professor Wang needs to... what, touch up the glaze on cloisonné?"
"Alright, alright, I'll deliver it to him myself..."
After hanging up the phone, Shang Yan looked on in surprise: "The new Secretary Wang even knows this?"
Cloisonné is indeed made of bronze. However, the most crucial techniques, "enameling" and "firing," are actually porcelain crafts.
Moreover, it's even more difficult: the main component of porcelain body is kaolin, which is similar to the composition of glaze. During firing, its coefficient of expansion is relatively small, so it can be fired in one go. Even with overglaze decoration, it only requires two firings.
Cloisonné, on the other hand, has a pure metal body. The glaze has a large expansion coefficient during sintering, and it is very easy to oxidize, change color, or crack during the firing process. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the glaze layer by layer and fire it layer by layer, which requires stricter control of the kiln temperature.
If it is the restoration of cultural relics, it is even more difficult: the copper body has been corroded for a long time, and the glaze has been oxidized for a long time, so the coefficient of expansion and strength have reached a very fragile level.
How can restorers ensure that the color and texture of the newly repaired glaze are consistent with the original, while preventing the extremely fragile original glaze layer from cracking again due to changes in kiln temperature?
Therefore, apart from a few top research institutions such as the Palace Museum and the Beijing Enamel Factory, other places that use cold patching for enamel repair all use cold patching.
In other words, it involves filling the cavity with epoxy resin and then dyeing it, which is economical, environmentally friendly, and safe. However, both its economic and artistic value are significantly reduced.
But the dean made it very clear on the phone: if Wang Qizhi wants to use an electric kiln, then it must be for hot patching...
The more she thought about it, the more curious she became. Shang Yan grabbed her keys and quickly went downstairs.
The teaching and research building and the experimental center are separated by only a garden, just a few minutes' walk apart. As soon as she reached the third floor, Shang Yan's eyelids twitched:
Why is Li Zhen here too?
Huh, Lin Sicheng is here too?
Holding a box in his hands, he was facing Wang Qizhi head to head. What were they discussing?
Wait... when did these two meet, and how did they become so close?
A bad feeling crept into her heart, and Shang Yan winked at Li Zhen.
Li Zhen actually nodded... Haha?
After years of being master and apprentice, their tacit understanding was unparalleled. With just a nod, Shang Yan guessed most of what was going on.
Well, you surnamed Wang, have you no shame?
Shang Yan didn't quite understand why Wang Qizhi was meddling in this, but that didn't stop her from knowing what the most appropriate thing to do was.
After rolling her eyes twice, Shang Yan strode over, deliberately putting on a stern face: "Lin Sicheng, what time is it? Aren't you in class? What are you doing here causing trouble? Go back..."
Lin Sicheng smiled and was about to say something when Wang Qizhi stepped forward.
We're all ancient foxes, why are you trying to play these ghost stories with me?
He also had a stern face: "Professor Shang, you sent Lin Sicheng back, who's going to fix my cloisonné?"
"What?"
"This...this plate, Lin Sicheng sold it to me...a full 940,000! I asked him to ask Professor Lin to help me cover the difference, but he told me: 'Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut...'"
Shang Yan stared at the sunflower-shaped plate in the box: 940,000... Where did Lin Sicheng get it? Did he steal it from home?
But that's not the point. The point is: it wasn't Wang Qizhi who borrowed the lab to repair cloisonné, but Lin Sicheng.
No... Lin Sicheng, you've only been wandering around the lab without wearing open-crotch pants for a few years, how could you possibly know how to mend cloisonné?
Now look at this piece in Wang Qizhi's hand: except for the fish tail, the porcelain on the two fish bodies has basically been completely worn off, which means that the glaze needs to be repaired and the firing needs to be started from scratch.
Looking at the copper wires on the fish, they are rusted black, which shows the extent of corrosion of the basin and how fragile the original glaze layer was.
Even Professor Lin would probably frown if he came. If it were Lin Sicheng, it would definitely make a "crack" sound the moment it hit the furnace…
Shang Yan's expression immediately turned serious: "Don't mess around with something worth nearly a million!"
"Professor Shang, don't worry, I won't do anything reckless: Today, we'll first analyze the original glaze composition, then mix a similar colored glaze, and then fire some samples to check the color difference..."
Simultaneously test the degree of corrosion on the copper base and the expansion coefficient of the original glaze, and also deduce the safe kiln temperature range for firing the enamel... Only when it's almost certain will we consider repairing the original piece..."
Hmm, that's quite methodical?
But to be honest, in the field of cultural relic restoration, there is often a huge gap between theory and practice.
Seeing Lin Sicheng's confident demeanor, Shang Yan's eyes began to dart around again: "I wouldn't dare say that if it were a sure thing."
Since it's just a sample anyway, at most it'll just waste some glaze, so let him give it a try.
It's good that the test failed; it will just make that guy surnamed Wang give up.
She nodded and opened the laboratory door.
Just as he was thinking of calling Li Zhen aside to ask how the turtle and the green bean had gotten along, Lin Sicheng had already changed into his protective suit:
"Professor Shang, I need to do X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and I'll have to trouble Senior Sister Li to record it."
Looking at the protective suit he was wearing, Shang Yan was taken aback: "You know how to use it?"
Wang Qizhi nodded: "He knows how to use it!"
Did I ask you?
You claim to know something when you don't even know it? Lin Sicheng has been to the lab a few times, don't I know that?
Shang Yan rolled her eyes: "Li Zhen, you go in and assist, I'll take notes!"
Wang Qizhi remained silent.
Cloisonné is indeed a type of bronze ware, but glaze repair requires knowledge of ceramics, which is something he was a complete novice in.
Since you don't know as much as others, you should refrain from interrupting...
Shang Yan turned on the computer and opened the folder. Li Zhen also changed into her protective suit and went into the (XRF) equipment room with Lin Sicheng.
First, turn on the power, then turn on the high voltage, then initialize... After completing these three steps, Li Zhen stopped and looked at Shang Yan outside.
Because it was her first time inspecting cloisonné artifacts, she really didn't know how to proceed.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Shang Yan pouted. "Lin Sicheng, don't you know how to do that?"
Why would I come in here?
Lin Sicheng nodded, hands in his pockets, unhurriedly: "Senior Sister Li, let's calibrate the instruments first..."
"1. Matrix calibration: substrate, copper; 2. Sample standard: substrate surface glaze, elemental detection range: Cu, Co, Fe..."
"Second, parameter settings: X-ray tube voltage range: 40-50kV, current range: 100-200μA..."
"Filters: First Al, then Cu... Vacuum mode: Na, Mg, Al; Atmospheric mode: Fe, Cu, Pb..."
"Collimator selection: 150μm...spot range: 0.5-1 mm, micro-area..."
In the equipment room, Li Zhen's hands hovered above the keyboard, hesitant to come down.
Because she didn't know whether Lin Sicheng was right or wrong.
Outside the equipment room, Shang Yan held a pen, her lips slightly parted like an "O": No... he really would?
And don't be too good at it... but how could he be good at it?
Seeing her stunned expression, Wang Qizhi chuckled and said, "Professor Shang, start writing?"
"What, didn't you hear me?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com