Micro-Computed Tomography with 3D Image Analysis to Reveal Firing Temperature Effects on Pore Systems in Archaeological and Ethnographic Ceramics

Understanding the firing regimes of archaeological ceramics reveals clues about the history of technological developments, but current methods for determining firing history have limitations. We experimented with non-destructive micro-CT combined with 3D image analysis to collect data on 42 pore var...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied sciences 2022-11, Vol.12 (22), p.11448
Main Authors: Reedy, Chandra L., Reedy, Cara L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3D image analysis
archaeological ceramics
Archaeology
Ceramics
Computed tomography
Durability
Elongation
Experiments
firing temperature
Historic artifacts
Image analysis
Image processing
Laboratories
Mechanical properties
Medical imaging
Membrane permeability
micro-CT
Microstructure
Mineralogy
Pore size
pore systems
Pores
Porosity
Scanning electron microscopy
Shape
Shape factor
Temperature effects
Thermal conductivity
Three dimensional analysis
Tomography
Tortuosity
Variables
Variance analysis
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Summary:Understanding the firing regimes of archaeological ceramics reveals clues about the history of technological developments, but current methods for determining firing history have limitations. We experimented with non-destructive micro-CT combined with 3D image analysis to collect data on 42 pore variables, hypothesizing that pore systems are affected by ceramic firing temperatures. Analysis of variance showed that 26 of the variables are significantly related to firing temperature. Total volume porosity (open and closed pores) goes down with increased firing temperature, as does the fraction of pores accessible to a surface. Maximum pore volume, maximum and standard deviation of pore surface area, and pore elongation measures all decrease with higher firing temperatures while shape factors indicating greater sphericity increase. Pore connectivity measures decrease with higher firing temperatures, and variation in pore and connection lengths increases. The highest fired ceramics have low connection tortuosity. Three-dimensional image analysis of micro-CT data can augment existing methods of archaeothermometry, and since many pore characteristics impact the functional properties of ceramics (density, durability, mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, permeability, and diffusion), firing temperature studies of pore systems can inform wider archaeological ceramics research.
ISSN:2076-3417
2076-3417
DOI:10.3390/app122211448