C. (caseine- charcoal black)

Casein - A natural phosphorous-containing protein found in milk. Casein is composed of the following major amino acids: glutamic acid (20.2%), proline (13.2%), aspartic acid (6.1%), leucine (9.0%), lysine (6.7%), valine (7.2%), tyrosine (5.5%), isoleucine (6.0%) and phenylalanine (5.1%) with no measurable amounts of hydroxyproline (Mills and White 1994). It has been used as a glue and binder since earliest recorded periods. Casein curds form naturally as milk sours, but it is also precipitated by adding dilute hydrochloric acid to hot skim milk. The curds are collected, washed and dried to form a white to yellowish powder. The dried casein is insoluble in water and alcohol but is soluble in carbonates and other alkaline solutions. For use, casein is soaked overnight in a solution with a weak alkali (ammonium carbonate, borax or lime) to form a clear, viscous solution. Solutions of casein are used as adhesives and as paint binders and architectural paints. The paint film is brittle but very hard-wearing. It was popular in the late 19th century for stencilling on walls as it dries quickly and has the required matt finish. Furthermore, since it is instantly soluble and does not form a thick layer, elaborate schemes could be built up with four or five overlaid stencil shapes. Casein paints are now sold in powder form or ready-prepared. See also : casein paint.
Synonyms: caseinate; whey glue; Casco Glue; milk acid powder; kasein; ammonium casein; borax casein; lime-casein; Lactilith; Galalith; Erinoid; Kyloid; causeum
Trench (2000);  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000)

Casein adhesive - A clear, viscous solution formed when casein powder is soaked in water with an alkali (ammonium carbonate, borax, lime, etc.). The alkali hydrolyses the casein to make a solution that is usually stable for several weeks. Occasionally a plasticizer, such as glycerol or sorbitol and a preservative, such as phenol, are added to the solution. Casein glues since ancient times as a water-proof adhesive. Lime-casein glues were first patented in the mid 19th century. They were an important commercial glue through W.W.I for applications such as plywood. Casein glues were mostly replaced by phenolic, resorcinol and urea-formaldehyde adhesives in the 1930's and 40's.
Synonyms: casein glue; ammonium casein; borax casein; lime-casein; lime casein
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000)

Casein paint - A water-based, matte paint with a casein binder. Dry casein is hydrolysed with alkalis (lime, borax, ammonium carbonate, etc.) to form a clear viscous solution. Casein paints dry to a matte, brittle film that is insoluble in water and impervious to most paint strippers. It may sometimes be removed with strong alkaline or ammonia solutions. Casein paints have been used for panel paintings, wall paintings and as architectural paints. Casein paints were sometimes varnished or glazed to imitate oil paints. Commercial production of casein paints began about 1900. Prior to that time, most casein paints were prepared by the painter. See also : casein.
Synonyms: milk paint; farmers paint; casein tempera; lime casein
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000)

Cassel brown - A naturally occurring dark brown earth named for a city in central Germany. Cassel earth, also known as Vandyke brown and Cologne earth, contains organic humus or coal material mixed with iron oxides, alumina and silica. When ignited, the pigment leaves a soft grey residue. The colorant is fugitive and fades on exposure to strong light. It is listed among the pigments used for colouring stucco marble in the nineteenth and twentieth century.
Synonyms: Cassel earth; Cassel's earth; Kassel earth; Cologne earth; Pigment Brown 9; CI 77430; Vandyke brown; Castle earth; Castile earth; Cullens earth; Colens earth; Collens earth
Wittenburg (1999); Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000)

Cast stone - A precast building stone prepared from several formulations that harden to a rocklike solid. It has the appearance of stone when cast into the desired form or structural shape. Examples of some cast stone binders are: clay (Coade's stone), plaster (Protean stone), water glass (Siliceous Concrete Stone), oxychloride cement (casting stone), epoxy, and Portland cement (Frear stone, Victoria stone, Benedict stone). Cast stones were used extensively in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They often incorporated fine and coarse aggregates for texture along with pigments or dyes to imitate colouring and veining of natural stones. Cast stones were produced in many sizes and shapes, often with intricate patterns and tracery.  See also artificial stone; artificial marble.
Synonyms: artificial stone; imitation stone; reconstituted stone; reconstructed stone; beton; Victoria stone; Protean stone; Frear stone; Siliceous Concrete Stone; Coade's stone; Benedict stone; Arnold stone; Chicago Art Marble; Dextone; Edmunds Art Stone; Instone; Litholite; Pulham stone; Haddon stone; artificial marble; scagliola; marezzo; stucco lustro
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000); RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Casting plaster - A fine-grained plaster of Paris. Casting plaster is white, slow setting and capable of taking fine detail (Mayer 1969). It can also mean a plaster mixture with additives to provide properties desirable for casting work. 
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000); RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Caustic lime - A material, white when pure, that is obtained by calcining limestone, shells, or other forms of calcium carbonate. Caustic lime is also called quicklime or burnt lime and is used in mortars and cements. 
RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Cement - A fine grey powder obtained by heating limestone and clay, which sets hard by chemical reaction and is used as a mortar and a render. Portland cement was patented in 1824 by Joseph Aspidin. It was called so because it was supposed to resemble Portland stone. It was made by firing limestone to produce lime, which was then crushed and mixed with clay. This was fired between 1000°C and 1200°C. Although this material was hydraulic, it was not as strong as modern cements because it was manufactured at lower temperatures. In the late 1830s Isaac Johnson discovered that overburnt lumps from the kilns produced a stronger, more reliable product with a slower set. His process, patented in 1838, involved heating limestone or chalk to 1300-1500°C, which converted it to quicklime. This then reacted with the clay to form clinker which was ground and mixed with gypsum to retard the set. For use it was mixed with water. The set occurs through the formation of calcium silicates and calcium aluminates in the film. These react with water to from starburst-shaped particles which interlock to give cement its strength. Modern ordinary Portland cement is a hard, grey, impervious material which is mixed with sand for use as a mortar and a render. Early 19th century rendered façades were colour-washed with distemper; oil paint for external walls was introduced around 1840. See also : Portland cement
Trench (2000)

Cement clinker - A lump or ball of fused material, usually 1/8" to 1" in  diameter, formed by heating cement slurry in a kiln. When cool, the clinker is interground with gypsum to form cement.  See also : cement
RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Cement mix - A binder combined with various aggregates which sets and holds together into a mass which then hardens and gains strength. 
English Heritage (2000)

Cement mortar - 1. A plastic building material made by mixing lime, cement,  sand, and water. Cement mortar is used to bind masonry  blocks together or to plaster over masonry. 2. Any cement used for mortar of masonry walls. Masonry cements are generally more workable than normal Portland cement. They usually start with a Portland cement base and add hydrated lime, crushed limestone, diatomaceous earth or granulated slag to aid in spreading.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000); RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Cement paste - A mixture of cement and water. 
RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Cement plaster - Plaster containing Portland cement as the binder and commonly used on exterior surfaces or in damp areas. 
RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Cement putty -  A type of cement mortar composed of pure cement and water.  See cement mortar.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000)

Cement rendering - A wash of Portland cement and sand applied over a surface. 
RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Cement rock (cement stone) - A natural, impure limestone that contains the ingredients for the manufacture of Portland cement. 
RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Cement slurry - A thin, watery cement mixture for pumping or for use as a wash over a surface. 
RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Cement stone - See cement rock. 
RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Cement stucco -  1. A mixture of Portland cement, sand, and a small percentage of lime. Used to form a hard covering for textured  exterior walls. 2. A fine plaster used for interior decorations and moldings. 
RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Cement temper -  The addition of Portland cement to lime plaster to improve its strength and durability. 
RS Means Building Glossary (undated)

Chalk - A soft, porous white mineral composed of fine-grained limestone. Also called whiting, pure varieties of chalk contain up to 99 percent calcium carbonate as the mineral calcite. Chalk was formed in the Cretaceous period and occurs naturally in thick beds in many parts of the world, such as the chalk cliffs along the English Channel. Chalk beds are collections of the shells of such tiny marine organisms as foraminifera, coccoliths, and rhabdoliths. Ground chalk has been used as a pigment since ancient times. When mixed with glue, it was the most common ground for northern European paintings from medieval times well into the 18th century. Chalk was also commonly used for making lime, Portland cement, putty and polishing powders. Chalk is stable and inert. It is made synthetically by precipitating fine particles of calcium carbonate. It is listed among the inorganic additives used for stucco marble preparation according to literature. 
Synonyms: whiting; English white; Paris white; gilder's whiting; Champagne chalk; calcite; limestone; calcium carbonate; marble white; Kreide (Ger.); craie  (Fr.); creta (It.); greda (Sp.)
Wittenburg (1999); Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000) 

Charcoal black - A black pigment prepared from the porous black residue left after the destructive distillation of wood. Charcoal black has been used as a pigment since ancient times. The best charcoal black is produced from willow, bass, beech, birch, maple or other even-textured wood. The residue is ground then washed to remove any potash. Charcoal contains about 80-98% carbon with some ash and moisture. The grey-black powder is porous and light, but it has poor covering properties and is seldom used in paints. Charcoal black has been used for preliminary sketches, cartoons, pouncing and underdrawings It produces a soft, easily smudged drawing that is often sprayed with a fixative to prevent smears. Charcoal black was also used as a pigment in English house paints.  See also carbon black, charcoal, and charcoal crayon.
Synonyms: peach black; vegetable black; vine black; birch black; blue black; soft black; willow black; Pigment Black 8; CI 77268; charcoal grey
Ellis (1999); Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000)
 
 
 

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