Reborn Treasure Appraiser: I Really Didn’t Want to Be an Expert

Chapter 46 What? Didn’t you hear clearly?

"Yes, Dean, I have the key!"

"Oh, Professor Wang needs to... what, reglaze the cloisonné?"

"Okay, okay, I'll deliver it to him myself..."

After hanging up the phone, Shang Yan looked surprised: The new Secretary Wang even knows this?
It is true that cloisonné is a bronzeware, but the most crucial techniques of "applying blue" and "burning blue" are the work of porcelain.

And it is even more difficult: the main component of the porcelain body is high-grade clay, which is similar to the composition of the glaze. The expansion coefficient during firing is relatively small, so it can be fired in one go. Even for overglaze color, it only takes two times.

However, cloisonné is made of pure metal, and the glaze has a large expansion coefficient when sintered. It is very easy to oxidize, discolor or crack during the firing process, so it needs to be glazed and fired layer by layer, and the control of the furnace temperature is more stringent.

If it is to repair cultural relics, it is even more difficult: the copper base has been corroded for a long time, and the glaze layer has been oxidized for a long time, and the expansion coefficient and strength have reached a very fragile level.

How can the restorer ensure that the color and texture of the newly added glaze are as consistent as possible with the original object, while preventing the extremely fragile original glaze layer from cracking again due to changes in furnace temperature?
Therefore, except for a few top research institutions such as the Palace Museum and the Beijing Enamel Factory, other places use cold repair to repair Jinglantai porcelain.

That is, using epoxy resin to fill and then dye, which is economical, environmentally friendly and safe. However, both the economic and artistic value will be greatly reduced.

But the dean made it very clear on the phone: Wang Qizhi wants to use an electric kiln, so it must be hot repair...

The more she thought about it, the more curious she became. Shang Yan grabbed the key and quickly went downstairs.

The teaching and research building and the experimental center are separated by a garden and can be reached in a few minutes. As soon as she reached the third floor, Shang Yan's eyelids jumped:
Why is Li Zhen here too?

Hey, Lin Sicheng is here too?

Holding a box in his hands, he was facing Wang Qizhi head-on. What were they discussing?
No... When did these two know each other and why are they so close?
With a bad premonition in her heart, Shang Yan winked at Li Zhen.

Li Zhen actually nodded...haha?
After years of being master and disciple, their tacit understanding is beyond words. Just with this little nod, Shang Yan guessed most of the answer.

Okay, Mr. Wang, do you have any shame?

Shang Yan didn’t understand why Wang Qizhi was joining in the fun, but that didn’t stop her from knowing what the best thing to do was.
After rolling her eyes twice, Shang Yan walked over with a stern face, "Lin Sicheng, what time is it now? You are not in the classroom, why are you here to join in the fun? Go back..."

Lin Sicheng smiled and was about to say something when Wang Qizhi stepped forward.

We are all thousand-year-old foxes, why are you playing Liao Zhai tricks on me?
He also had a stern face: "Professor Shang, if you let Lin Sicheng go back, who will repair my cloisonné?"

"What?"

"This... this plate. Lin Sicheng sold it to me... for a full 940,000! I asked him to ask Professor Lin to fix it for me, and he told me: Why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken..."

Shang Yan stared at the sunflower plate in the box: Nine hundred and fourty thousand... Where did Lin Sicheng get it? Did he steal it from home?

But this is not the point. The point is: the one who borrowed the laboratory to make up for the cloisonné was not Wang Qizhi, but Lin Sicheng?

No... Lin Sicheng, you've only been hanging around in the lab for a few years without wearing crotchless pants, how can you make cloisonné?
Look at the piece in Wang Qizhi's hand: except for the fish tail, the porcelain on the two fish has basically fallen off, which means that he has to reglaze and fire it from scratch.

Looking at the copper wire on the fish, it has turned black due to rust. One can imagine the extent of rust on the basin and how fragile the original glaze layer is.
Even Professor Lin would have frowned if he came. As for Lin Sicheng, the moment he put it into the furnace, there was a "crack" sound...

Shang Yan's expression suddenly became serious: "Don't mess around with something worth nearly a million!"

"Professor Shang, don't worry. I won't do anything rash. Today, I'll analyze the original glaze composition, then mix a similar color glaze. I'll fire some samples and see the color difference..."

Simultaneously test the degree of rust on the copper base and the expansion coefficient of the original glaze layer, and deduce the safe furnace temperature range for blue firing... Only when it is basically 90% certain will we consider repairing the original artifact..."

Hmm, that's quite methodical, isn't it? But honestly, in the field of cultural relic restoration, there's often a huge gap between theory and practice.

Looking at Lin Sicheng's confident look, Shang Yan's eyes began to turn again: It's a sure thing, and I don't even dare to say that?
It's just a sample anyway, and at most it will waste some glaze, so I might as well let him try it.

It would be better if the test failed, so that Mr. Wang would give up.

She nodded and opened the lab door.

Just as he was thinking of calling Li Zhen aside to ask how Wang Ba and Lu Dou could have met eyes, Lin Sicheng had already put on his protective suit.

"Professor Shang, I need to do an X-ray fluorescence spectrum, and I'd like to trouble Senior Sister Li to take notes."

Looking at the protective suit on his body, Shang Yan was stunned: "Do you know how to use it?"

Wang Qizhi nodded: "He can use it!"

Did I ask you?
You say you know it without even knowing it. Don’t I know how many times Lin Sicheng has been to the laboratory?
Shang Yan rolled her eyes: "Li Zhen, you go in and assist, I'll take notes!"

Wang Qizhi said nothing.

It is true that cloisonné is a bronze artifact, but the restoration of the glaze layer requires knowledge of ceramics, and he is indeed a layman.

Since you don't understand as well as others, just stop interrupting...

Shang Yan turned on her computer and flipped through the folder. Li Zhen also changed into protective clothing 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 to inspect cloisonné artifacts, she really didn't know what to do next.

"Why are you looking at me?" Shang Yan curled her lips. "Lin Sicheng, don't you know how to do it?"

No, why would I come in?
Lin Sicheng nodded, put his hands in his pockets, and said calmly: "Sister Li, let's calibrate the instrument first..."

"First, matrix calibration: substrate, copper; second, sample standard: substrate surface glaze, detection element range: Cu, Co, Fe..."

"Second, parameter settings: X-ray tube voltage range: 40-50kV, current range: 100-200μA..."

"Filters: Al first, Cu second... Vacuum mode: Na, Mg, Al; Atmospheric mode: Fe, Cu, Pb..."

"Collimator selection: 150μm... Spot size: 0.5-1 mm, micro area..."

In the equipment room, Li Zhen's hands were suspended above the keyboard, and they were reluctant to put them down.

Because she didn't know whether what Lin Sicheng said was right or not.

Outside the equipment room, Shang Yan held a pen in her hand, her lips slightly parted, like the letter "O": No... he really can?
And don’t be too good at it… But how could he do that?

Seeing that she was stunned, Wang Qizhi said, "Huh?" "Professor Shang, are you going to write?"

"What, didn't you hear clearly?"

Sorry, it’s a little late!

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(End of this chapter)