Full structural study of Chinese lead-barium glasses from Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD)

In collaboration with Key Laboratory for Cultural Heritage Study & Conservation of Northwest University, China, we want to determine the crystalline composition and gain insights into non-crystalline phases through pair distribution function analysis of a representative set of Chinese lead-barium glasses produced during the Han Dynasty. The few Chinese studies and our preliminary results seem to indicate that the crystalline phases are rather in small quantity in theses glasses. In addition, XRD-lab indicates the presence of non-crystalline lead oxide clusters or nanocrystals, which could play a significant role in the glass opacification. Previous studies have shown that barium is implicated in the process of glass opacification but we believed that lead could also be involved. An analyse of the crystalline content through the Rietveld method combined with a PDF study will provide valuable data concerning the actual crystalline composition and the local structure of vitreous phase