Plaster
is the common name for calcium sulphate hemi hydrate made by heating the mineral
gypsum, the common name for sulphate of lime. Plaster was first made about 9000
years ago, and has been used by ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations.
However, it wasn't used on a large scale until 1700s, when it was required to be
used in all construction in Paris. In 1666, a fire raged across London,
destroying many parts of it. In its aftermath, the king of France ordered that
all walls made of wood in Paris be immediately covered with plaster, as a
protection against such fires. This resulted in large-scale mining of gypsum
which was available around Paris in huge quantities. Thus, during the early 18th
century, Paris became the centre of plaster production, and hence the name,
plaster of Paris.
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