jade, jadeite, fei cui, treated jade, FTIR, B jade, gems

Fourier transform infrared transmission and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have proven to be useful spectroscopic techniques used to detect the presence of wax and polymers in jadeites, thus enabling the discrimination between A and B jades. This paper reports the results of Fourier transform infrared transmission and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies done on a sample of polymer- impregnated jadeite. The polymer used for the impregnation of this sample has been previously reported (e.g. Fritsch and McClure, 1993) to be present in impregnated jadeite. Using the above two spectroscopic techniques, this polymer has been identified as polystyrene.