The performance of different adhesives for archaeological ceramics under mechanical stress

The influence of environmental conditions, in particular temperature, on the performance of adhesives joining different archaeological ceramic fabrics is assessed in laboratory conditions. Different types of model ceramic fabrics were manufactured and joined with commercially available adhesives, which are commonly employed in the conservation of archaeological ceramics, and a series of systematic tests on the various adhesive–ceramic systems was conducted. The response of joins to static mechanical stress was assessed in controlled loading tests. Results of those tests as well as failure mechanisms observed are discussed.