American scientists from the Field Museum in Chicago developed a methodology to create a synthetic amber. During the experiments, they succeeded in converting fresh pine tar into a close material with natural substances. The results of the study were published there magazine Scientific reports (sciep).
Traditionally, amber and digging – petrified wooden resins – are valued for the ability to protect the residues of old plants and animals. However, their fragility and rare makes it difficult to perform chemical tests.
The creation of a laboratory analogue allows experts to freely experience materials without the risk of damaging unique natural examples.
To obtain artificial amber, the researchers used three types of pine resins collected in the Chicago Botanical Garden. The samples were placed in the bentonite clay and were exposed to high pressure (159-241 bar) and temperature (130-150 ° C) for 19-41 hours. As a result, the resin has changed its properties: the opaque and adhesive mass turned into a fragile transparent material of the yellow-orange color.
The analysis showed that during the experiment, the resin had undergone chemical changes similar to the natural process of amber formation. In particular, infrared spectroscopy has reduced a decrease in carbonyl compounds, characteristics of natural colal and Baltic amber.
Although the material purchased is not yet exactly the same as the natural amber with regard to the degree of polymerization, the experiment has proved the fundamental probability of forming the artificial counterpart. Scientists plan to continue research to clarify the parameters of the process and to achieve more similarity with natural examples.
Previously, for the first time researchers To create Amber in Antarctica.
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Source: Gazeta
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