XRF analysis of objects of historical or artistic values using CRE focalization optic in portable equipment

RUBIO M.; PÉREZ R. D.; GERMANIER A.

Lisboa (Portugal)

Conferencia; Non-destructive and microanalytical techniques in art and cultural heritage research-TECHNART2007; 2007

University of Lisbon

This work describes the use of X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry to study different pieces of art (Jesuits painted wooden carving, painting, holy chambers, etc.). The works of arts analysed belong to the Jesuits missions placed in the centre of Argentina categorized as cultural heritage of the humanity. A portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer focused by a home-built CRE monochromator was used. The excitation unit was a side window tungsten x-ray tube filtered by 0.5 mm of Al.  A low noise ITALSTRUCTURES power supply generator, model IS6012, of 100 W of power was connected to the tube operated with Vmax = 60 kV and Imax = 2 mA. The detector used is a Beryllium window model XR-100I-CZT -CdZnTe crystal- cooled by Peltier effect. The system amplifier-multichannel analyser is the well-known model Rover of AMPTEK adjusted to 1024 channels. The FWHM of the spectrometer used is near 300 eV for 8.04 keV (Ka line of Cu). A geometry 45o-45o with an incident polychromatic beam collimated/monocromathised by an arrangement of revolution curved crystals (CRE) was used. The figure shows the XRF geometry, the monitor of the palm-top multichannel analyser and the 8 revolution crystals aligned before to be placed into the cylindrical holder.