Nondestructive method for the calculation of bulk material composition by X‐ray fluorescence, using surface analysis on corroded bronze objects

Abstract

The formation of patina on the surface of archeological bronze objects is a complex phenomenon, being influenced by various parameters induced by the environment and the alloy composition. Over several years, many attempts have been made to analyze the bulk composition of the alloys by nondestructive surface measurements. In this paper, we propose an analytical approach to evaluate the composition of bronze alloys using neural network analysis and X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evidence of Eurasian metal alloys on the Alaskan coast in prehistory

“…However, all of the copper artifacts analyzed here are very thin, < 1mm thick resulting in complete penetration of x-rays. Our quantitative results for the two leaded bronzes may reflect some degree of tin enrichment due to corrosion, but based on earlier studies using pXRF (Nicholas and Manti, 2014;Niculescu et al, 2012), the overall all effect is not significant enough to preclude the identification of the buckle and bead as leaded bronzes. Additionally, because these artifacts were analyzed without intensive cleaning or the removal of patination, and were not taken on polished surfaces, the detection of iron in amounts ranging from 0.13-6.07 % is most likely due to the presence of small amounts burial matrix on artifact surfaces or interiors (in the case of the bead).…”

2013 Atomic spectrometry update—A review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

“…Use of lead bronze reduced corrosion caused by galvanic reactions because lead corrosion products acted as insulators and the lead provided stability to the artifact due to its extra weight. Estimating the bulk composition of archaeological bronze artifacts covered with a surface patina was the subject of a paper by Niculescu et al 279 The authors favoured the use of XRF spectrometric data accompanied by neural network analysis. Gigante et al 280 produced a large amount of data, using a transportable XRF system, in the analysis of the bronze burial monument of Pope Sixtus IV (1471-84), now in the Treasure Museum in the Vatican.…”