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Dessiccation

The removal or loss of moisture from a material.

Short Definition

The removal or loss of moisture from a material.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Language Origin

French

Categories

The removal or loss of moisture from a material. In modeling clay, desiccation produces shrinkage and can cause cracking around an armature; in stone conservation the term may describe drying processes and the movement or crystallization of soluble salts.

References

  • Pliny the Elder, Natural History (where applicable).
  • Pierre-Info Glossaire (for French stone terminology, where applicable).