• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.13
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• pp.45-49
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• 2012

A scientific analysis was carried out on the 14 pieces of glass beads excavated from the Daho-ri site NO. 6, Changweon. Most of the glass pieces were made of light blue transparent glass with round bubbles aligned in a regular direction. As a result of the SEM-EDS analysis, all the glass pieces turned out to be within the potash glass group (K₂O-SiO₂) and were identified to be the LCA (Low CaO, Low Al₂O₃) series glass, of which the concentration is 5% or below for CaO and Al₂O₃ respectively. In addition, it is presumed that plant materials were refined or a mineral (saltpetre, KNO₃) was used as the raw materials for making potash and also that the ingredient acting as a colorants for light blue color was affected deeply by CuO.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.255-265
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• 2015

In this study, the potash glass beads of 281 samples in 30 sites analyzed until now were classified according to the chemical composition. And the color, size, manufacturing technique and distribution period were compared. Korea potash glass beads are divided into 3 types depending on the stabilizer content. I, II type is the CaO and $Al_2O_3$ content of less than 5%. Relatively, I type has a high CaO and II type has a high $Al_2O_3$. In contrast, III type comprises more than CaO 5%. I, II type is the saltpetre, III type is estimated using plant ash as row material of flux. A review of the properties by type, I type is cobalt blue, copper blue and purple beads. The outer diameter is sized to the range 1.4~7.4mm. Also it was produced by the drawing technique. It was used continuously from BC 1C until around AD 6C. On the other hand, II type is outer diameter of 1.9~3.6mm and a copper blue beads. manufacturing technique is the same as the I type. This seems to have been in use since around AD 1C to 4C. Finally, III type is brown, colorless, amber beads and an outer diameter of about 10mm. It was formed by winding technique and appeared in the tombs of Goryeo and Joseon Dynasty. As a result, 3 types of potash glass beads distributed in Korea is likely to flowing through the various trade routes from different provenances.