A Study of the Chemical Composition of the 3rd Century AD Bosporan Billon Staters by XRF-Analysis, Neutron Tomography and Diffraction

Phase Composition and Its Spatial Distribution in Antique Copper Coins: Neutron Tomography and Diffraction Studies

“…The results of the chemical composition obtained from the surface of coins may differ from the distribution of chemical components in the entire coin volume [ 12 , 14 ]. The neutron diffraction method provides a non-destructive structural diagnostic with high penetration inside a volume of coins.…”

“…Currently, coins are being intensely investigated by means of non-destructive physical methods, such as traditional techniques like metallography or X-ray diffraction [ 1 , 3 , 9 ]. In this context, we should also mention the neutron radiography [ 10 , 11 , 12 ] and neutron diffraction [ 12 , 13 , 14 ] methods as relatively modern structural non-destructive experimental approaches [ 1 , 15 , 16 ]. The fundamental difference in nature of neutron interaction with matter compared to X-rays provides additional benefits to neutron methods, including sensitivity to light elements, a notable difference in contrast between isotopes and high penetration effect through metals or heavy elements.…”

“…The fundamental difference in nature of neutron interaction with matter compared to X-rays provides additional benefits to neutron methods, including sensitivity to light elements, a notable difference in contrast between isotopes and high penetration effect through metals or heavy elements. Neutron imaging and scattering methods are successful in separating the components of coin alloys with neighboring elements: iron and nickel, copper and zinc [ 17 ], copper and silver [ 12 , 14 ], copper and lead [ 18 ]. Moreover, neutron structural methods were applied to determine the bulk composition hidden by corrosion [ 11 , 14 ] for coin identification [ 11 ], for the reconstruction of coinage technologies and sources of mining materials for coins [ 19 ] and for the description of coins’ degradation like internal corrosion tracks [ 11 , 20 ] and deterioration areas [ 18 , 21 ].…”

“…Neutron imaging and scattering methods are successful in separating the components of coin alloys with neighboring elements: iron and nickel, copper and zinc [ 17 ], copper and silver [ 12 , 14 ], copper and lead [ 18 ]. Moreover, neutron structural methods were applied to determine the bulk composition hidden by corrosion [ 11 , 14 ] for coin identification [ 11 ], for the reconstruction of coinage technologies and sources of mining materials for coins [ 19 ] and for the description of coins’ degradation like internal corrosion tracks [ 11 , 20 ] and deterioration areas [ 18 , 21 ].…”

Non-destructive analysis of materials by neutron imaging at the TITAN facility

“…Wide application capability and relevance for scientific research of neutron radiography and tomography methods have become the main motivation for the build-up of a new instrument at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Almaty [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. In 2019, a new experimental station TITAN (Transmission Imaging with ThermAl Neutrons) was put into operation at the research reactor WWR-K, to conduct research on non-destructive testing of materials using neutron radiography and tomography [15][16].…”