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Applications of TOF neutron diffraction in archaeometry.

Authors :
Kockelmann, W.
Siano, S.
Bartoli, L.
Visser, D.
Hallebeek, P.
Traum, R.
Linke, R.
Schreiner, M.
Kirfel, A.
Source :
Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing; May2006, Vol. 83 Issue 2, p175-182, 8p, 2 Diagrams, 1 Chart, 4 Graphs
Publication Year :
2006

Abstract

Neutron radiation meets the demand for a versatile diagnostic probe for collecting information from the interior of large, undisturbed museum objects or archaeological findings. Neutrons penetrate through coatings and corrosion layers deep into centimetre-thick materials, a property that makes them ideal for non-destructive examination of objects for which sampling is impractical or unacceptable. A particular attraction of neutron techniques for archaeologists and conservation scientists is the prospect of locating hidden materials and structures inside objects. Time-of-flight (TOF) neutron diffraction allows for the examination of mineral and metal phase contents, crystal structures, grain orientations, and microstructures as well as micro- and macro strains. A promising application is texture analysis which may provide clues to the deformation history of the material, and hence to specific working processes. Here we report on instructive examples of TOF neutron diffraction, including phase analyses of medieval Dutch tin-lead spoons, texture analyses of bronze specimens as well as of 16th-century silver coins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
09478396
Volume :
83
Issue :
2
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
20253438
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-006-3503-6