Development of a highly mobile and versatile large <scp>MA‐XRF</scp> scanner for in situ analyses of painted work of arts

Pouyet, Émeline; Barbi, Nicholas; Chopp, Henry; Healy, Owen; Katsaggelos, Aggelos K.; Moak, Sophia; Mott, Rick; Vermeulen, Marc; Walton, Marc

doi:10.1002/xrs.3173

Cited by 24 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(25 reference statements)

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“…The signal intensity has also been increased using suitable detectors, especially Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) [24,[28][29][30]. Optimization of geometrical conditions have also been permitted to reduce the dwell time: minimizing the distance of the detector from the sample, the absorption of air at low energies is reduced, and at the same time, the acceptance solid angle is increased [31]. Furthermore, detectors with a larger detection area (or more than one detector in combination) highly increase the detected signal, speeding the measurement time up.…”

Section: State Of the Art Instruments And Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

More than XRF Mapping: STEAM (Statistically Tailored Elemental Angle Mapper) a Pioneering Analysis Protocol for Pigment Studies

et al. 2021

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Among the possible variants of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), applications exploiting scanning Macro-XRF (MA-XRF) are lately widespread as they allow the visualization of the element distribution maintaining a non-destructive approach. The surface is scanned with a focused or collimated X-ray beam of millimeters or less: analyzing the emitted fluorescence radiation, also elements present below the surface contribute to the elemental distribution image obtained, due to the penetrative nature of X-rays. The importance of this method in the investigation of historical paintings is so obvious—as the elemental distribution obtained can reveal hidden sub-surface layers, including changes made by the artist, or restorations, without any damage to the object—that recently specific international conferences have been held. The present paper summarizes the advantages and limitations of using MA-XRF considering it as an imaging technique, in synergy with other hyperspectral methods, or combining it with spot investigations. The most recent applications in the cultural Heritage field are taken into account, demonstrating how obtained 2D-XRF maps can be of great help in the diagnostic applied on Cultural Heritage materials. Moreover, a pioneering analysis protocol based on the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) algorithm is presented, unifying the MA-XRF standard approach with punctual XRF, exploiting information from the mapped area as a database to extend the comprehension to data outside the scanned region, and working independently from the acquisition set-up. Experimental application on some reference pigment layers and a painting by Giotto are presented as validation of the proposed method.

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Section: State Of the Art Instruments And Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

More than XRF Mapping: STEAM (Statistically Tailored Elemental Angle Mapper) a Pioneering Analysis Protocol for Pigment Studies

et al. 2021

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“…In XRF applied to CH, many applications now exploit macro-XRF (MA-XRF) scanners to provide both elemental imaging and point analyses and we will limit our discussion to them, being the most advanced and best-performing instruments, preferred because they allow for a better understanding of sample composition and structure [88]. Many custom and commercial MA-XRF scanners have been presented and are currently used, most of them based on a single SDD detector; see, for example, [89][90][91][92][93][94]. A custom ultra-portable MA-XRF scanner was developed also within INFN-CHNet, exploiting a single SDD detector and battery powered [95][96][97].…”

Section: X-ray Detectors-conventional Xrfmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detectors and Cultural Heritage: The INFN-CHNet Experience

et al. 2021

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Detectors are a key feature of the contemporary scientific approach to cultural heritage (CH), both for diagnostics and conservation. INFN-CHNet is the network of the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics that develops and applies new instrumentation for the study of CH. This process results in both optimized traditional state-of-the-art and highly innovative detection setups for spectrometric techniques. Examples of the former are X-rays, gamma-rays, visible-light and particles spectrometers tailored for CH applications, with optimized performances, reliability, weight, transportability, cost, absorbed power, and complementarity with other techniques. Regarding the latter, examples are ARDESIA, the array of detectors at the DAΦNE-Light facility, the MAXRS detection setup at the Riken-RAL muon beamline and the imaging facilities at the LENA Laboratory. Paths for next-generation instruments have been suggested, as in the case of the X-ray Superconductive Detectors and X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometers, allowing astonishing improvement in energy resolution. Many issues in CH can now be addressed thanks to scientific techniques exploiting the existing detectors, while many others are still to be addressed and require the development of new approaches and detectors.

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“…The prints were fully scanned using the NU-ACCESS MA-XRF system described in [23], for which the X-ray tube and polycapillary optic were replaced by a 50 W transmission Rh anode X-ray tube (Varex Imaging, Salt Lake City, UT, USA) and 500 µm collimator, respectively. MA-XRF scans were collected with a dwell time of 0.2 s, at 40 kV voltage and 1.250 A current.…”

Section: X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopymentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Modal, Non-Invasive Investigation of Modern Colorants on Three Early Modern Prints by Maria Sibylla Merian

et al. 2021

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Northwestern University’s Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections owns three hand-colored copperplate engravings that once belonged to an edition of Matamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium by artist-naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717). Because early modern prints are often colored by early modern readers, or modern collectors, it was initially unclear whether the coloring on these prints should be attributed to the print maker, to subsequent owners or collectors, or to an art dealer. Such ambiguities posed challenges for the interpretation of these prints by art historians. Therefore, the prints underwent multi-modal, non-invasive technical analysis to assess the date and material composition of the prints’ coloring. The work combined several different non-invasive analytical techniques: hyperspectral imaging (HSI), macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) mapping, surface normal mapping with photometric stereo, visible light photography, and visual comparative art historical analysis. As a result, the prints and paper were attributed to a late eighteenth-century posthumous edition of Merian’s work while the colorants were dated to the early twentieth century. This information enables more thorough contextualization of these prints in their use as teaching and research tools in the University collection.

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Development of a highly mobile and versatile large MA‐XRF scanner for in situ analyses of painted work of arts

Cited by 24 publications

References 21 publications

More than XRF Mapping: STEAM (Statistically Tailored Elemental Angle Mapper) a Pioneering Analysis Protocol for Pigment Studies

More than XRF Mapping: STEAM (Statistically Tailored Elemental Angle Mapper) a Pioneering Analysis Protocol for Pigment Studies

Detectors and Cultural Heritage: The INFN-CHNet Experience

Multi-Modal, Non-Invasive Investigation of Modern Colorants on Three Early Modern Prints by Maria Sibylla Merian

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