PART II (Portable ART analyzer)—development of a XRF spectrometer adapted for the study of artworks in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Abstract

A portable focused‐beam X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer was designed and manufactured taking into account a huge variation in material, size and shape of museum objects. The spectrometer is equipped with a vacuum chamber enclosed with a Kapton‐window allowing the detection of chemical elements from Na upwards, which enables the characterization of glass and enamel objects. Two low‐power X‐ray tubes, one with a Mo‐anode the other with a Cr‐anode, operating from 4 to 50 kV and 0 to 2.5 mA with a maximum power of 50 W and a point focus of about 180 µm can be used as excitation source alternatively. A polycapillary lens with a spot size of 150 µm is used for focusing the primary beam to access small details of the different objects, e.g. fine brush strokes in paintings. The vacuum chamber can be evacuated to about 1 mbar.A miniature camera is installed inside the chamber for inspecting the analyzed area through the Kapton‐window. Two laser pointers mounted inside the chamber coincide with the focal point of the polycapillary at the investigated spot. The excitation and X‐ray fluorescence radiation paths in air are about 1 mm each, minimizing the absorption losses. The spectrometer was designed to maximize the accessibility to all parts of the investigated objects through the use of translation stages and an innovative design of the detection head, especially the vacuum chamber. This article shows the capability of the spectrometer to reach measuring positions in concave parts of objects and presents the determined detection limits of elements. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Confocal micro-x-ray fluorescence spectrometer for light element analysis

“…Furthermore, the samples are a good choice as nondestructive measurements are very important when dealing with the analysis of objects from cultural heritage. 5,[16][17][18][19] All samples were measured using the Mo x-ray tube with the maximum parameters of 50 kV and 1 mA. Acquisition was 50 s real-time for each point.…”

A novel confocal XRF-Raman spectrometer and FPM model for analysis of solid objects and liquid substances

“…Two versions of a more sophisticated and specialized mobile XRF system were designed in the laboratory of the IAEA in Seibersdorf for XRF analysis of archaeological items. [7][8][9] Since historical glass objects oen contain sodium the mechanical design of the analytical equipment also ensures the optional possibility of XRF measurement under vacuum conditions. In this operation mode the greater part of the beam paths of the excitation and the secondary X-ray radiation propagates under vacuum or a He atmosphere.…”

RXR: A new X‐ray facility at XLab Frascati

“…This feature makes possible the design of novel compact and portable XRF systems. [18,19] Such systems, combined with a movement apparatus, enable 2D XRF elemental mapping to be performed. But there is still a lack of attention with regard to the mechanical components, especially the sample chamber, whose dimensions are usually inadequate to study large-scale objects, for which invasive sampling is necessary.…”