Research on protection of the architectural glazed ceramics in the Palace Museum, Beijing

The main damage of architectural glazed ceramics in the Palace Museum was investigated and the photo resistance, thermal resistance of protective materials as well as the protected performance such as hydrophobicity, freeze-thaw resistance, bending and compressive strength of the polymer-applied ceramics was tested. The results showed the main damage of glazed ceramics was the shedding of glaze layer and the change of environmental water and temperature especially subzero was the main reason for the glaze shedding. The photo-resistant and thermal-resistant of protective materials fluorine resin and the compound materials composed mainly of the fluorine resin were better than Paraloid B72 and the compound materials composed mainly of Paraloid B72. The wrapping method was selected for the protection of glazed ceramics and the hydrophobicity, freeze-thaw resistance, bending and compressive strength of the polymer-applied ceramics were improved, especially protected by fluorine resin and the compound materials composed mainly of the fluorine resin. The optimum polymer could penetrate into the damaged seriously glazed ceramics and play a hydrophobic role in the protection. The report will be useful for the preservation of damaged seriously architectural glazed ceramics.