Chapter 45: What, you didn't hear clearly?

"Yes, Dean, the key is with me!"

"Oh, Professor Wang wants to use... what, he wants to repair the glaze on a cloisonné?"

"Ah, alright, alright, I'll deliver it to him personally..."

Hanging up the phone, Shang Yan looked astonished: The new Secretary Wang can even do this?

Cloisonné is a type of Bronze, that is correct. But the most critical "Blue Pointing" and "Blue Burning" techniques are actually work for ceramics.

And it is even harder: The main component of a ceramic body is Kaolin, which is similar to the composition of the Glaze Material, so the expansion coefficient is relatively small during firing, meaning it can be fired in one go. Even for Overglaze, it only requires two firings.

However, cloisonné has a pure metal body, and the Glaze Material has a large expansion coefficient during sintering; it is extremely easy to oxidize, discolor, or crack during the firing process, so it requires layer-by-layer glazing and layer-by-layer firing, with even stricter control over the furnace temperature.

If it is for Artifact Restoration, it is even more difficult: the bronze body has undergone long-term corrosion, and the Glaze Layer has undergone long-term oxidation, so the expansion coefficient and strength have reached a considerably fragile state.

How can an expert in Artifact Restoration ensure that the color and texture of the newly added glaze remain consistent with the original piece, without causing the extremely fragile original Glaze Layer to crack a second time due to changes in furnace temperature?

Therefore, except for a few top-tier research institutions like the Forbidden City and the Beijing Enamel Factory, other places use Cold Repair for cloisonné.

That is, filling it with Epoxy Resin and then dyeing it; it is economical, environmentally friendly, and safe. However, both its economic and artistic value are discounted significantly.

But the Dean said it very clearly on the phone: Wang Qi Zhi wants to use the 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 only by a garden, just a few minutes away. As soon as she reached the third floor, Shang Yan's eyelids twitched:

Why is Li Zhen here too?

Huh, Lin Sicheng is actually here as well?

Holding a box in his hands, head-to-head with Wang Qi Zhi, they should be discussing something?

No... when did these two meet, and why is their relationship so close?

A bad premonition surfaced in her heart, and Shang Yan blinked at Li Zhen.

Li Zhen actually nodded... Haha?

After years of being teacher and student, their tacit understanding was no joke; just from that nod, Shang Yan guessed seven or eight out of ten.

Alright then, you surnamed Wang, do you have no shame?

Shang Yan hadn't figured out what Wang Qi Zhi was meddling in for the moment, but that didn't stop her from knowing what was the most appropriate thing to do.

Rolling her eyes twice, Shang Yan walked over with a "clatter-clatter-clatter" and deliberately put on a stern face: "Lin Sicheng, what time is it now? You aren't in class, what are you doing here? Go back..."

Lin Sicheng smiled slightly, and just as he was about to say something, Wang Qi Zhi stepped forward.

We are both thousand-year-old foxes, what kind of ghost story are you trying to play with me?

He also put on a stern face: "Professor Shang, if you send Lin Sicheng back, who will repair the cloisonné for me?"

"What?"

"This... just this plate, this was sold to me by Lin Sicheng... a full 940,000! I asked him to invite Professor Lin to help me repair it, and he told me: why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken..."

Shang Yan stared at the Sunflower-mouth Plate in the box: 940,000... where did Lin Sicheng get it, stole it from home?

But that is not the point; the point is: the one borrowing the lab to repair the cloisonné is not Wang Qi Zhi, but Lin Sicheng?

No... Lin Sicheng, it's only been a few years since you stopped wearing split-crotch pants and wandering around the lab, how would you know how to repair a fart's worth of cloisonné?

Looking at the piece in Wang Qi Zhi's hands: besides the fish tails, the porcelain on the two fish bodies is almost completely gone, which means the glaze needs to be repaired from scratch and fired from scratch.

Looking at the copper wires on the fish, they are rusted black; one can imagine the degree of corrosion of the basin body and how fragile the original Glaze Layer has become.

I'm afraid even Professor Lin would frown if he came; if given to Lin Sicheng, it would definitely go "Crack!" the moment it enters the furnace...

Shang Yan's expression immediately turned serious: "This is a million-dollar item, don't mess around!"

"Professor Shang, don't worry, I won't mess around: today I will first analyze the composition of the original glaze, then mix a glaze with a similar color, and then fire some samples to check the color difference...

I will simultaneously test the corrosion degree of the bronze body and the expansion coefficient of the original Glaze Layer, and by the way, deduce the safe furnace temperature range for Blue Burning... I will only consider repairing the original piece when I am basically certain..."

Huh, quite methodical, isn't he?

But to be honest, in the field of Artifact Restoration, there is often a huge gap between theory and practice.

Looking at Lin Sicheng's confident appearance, Shang Yan's eyes began to roll again: "Basically certain," I wouldn't even dare to say that?

Anyway, it's just a test sample, at most it will waste some Glaze Material, so I might as well let him try.

It would be better if he fails; that would make the one surnamed Wang give up.

She nodded and opened the laboratory door.

Just as she was thinking about pulling Li Zhen aside to ask how the turtle and the mung bean hit it off, Lin Sicheng had already changed into a Protective Suit:

"Professor Shang, I need to perform X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy, I'll have to trouble Senior Sister Li to record it."

Looking at the Protective Suit on him, Shang Yan was stunned: "You know how to use it?"

Wang Qi Zhi nodded: "He knows how to use it!"

Did I ask you?

He says he knows how to use it without even knowing if he does; how many times has Lin Sicheng been in the lab, don't I know?

Shang Yan rolled her eyes: "Li Zhen, you go in and assist, I'll do the recording!"

Wang Qi Zhi didn't say a word.

Cloisonné is indeed a type of Bronze, but the repair of the Glaze Layer uses knowledge of Ceramics, and he is indeed a layman.

Since he doesn't know as much as the others, he should talk less...

Shang Yan opened the computer and flipped open the Folder. Li Zhen had also changed into a Protective Suit and entered the (XRF) Equipment Room with Lin Sicheng.

First turn on the power, then turn on the high voltage, then initialize... After finishing these three steps, Li Zhen stopped and looked at Shang Yan outside.

Because this was her first time testing a cloisonné artifact, she really didn't know how to operate it next.

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

If I didn't know, why would I come in?

Lin Sicheng nodded, hands in his pockets, unhurried: "Senior Sister Li, first calibrate the instrument..."

"First, Substrate Correction: substrate, copper; second, Sample Standardization: substrate surface Glaze Material, detection element range: Cu, Co, Fe..."

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

"Filter: first Al, then Cu... Vacuum Mode: Na, Mg, Al, Atmospheric Mode: Fe, Cu, Pb..."

"Collimator Selection: 150μm... spot size range: 5-1mm, micro-area..."

Inside the Equipment Room, Li Zhen's hands hovered over the keyboard, hesitating to descend.

Because she did not know if what Lin Sicheng said was correct.

Outside the Equipment Room, Shang Yan held a pen, her lips slightly parted in an "O" shape: No way... does he really know how?

And he knows it too well... but how does he know it?

Seeing her as if stunned, Wang Qi Zhi let out a "ha": "Professor Shang, write it down?"

"What, didn't hear clearly?"

Sorry, a little late!