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An Improved X-Ray Fluorescence Method for the Analysis of Museum Objects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

Maurice E. Salmon*
Affiliation:
Conservation-Analytical Laboratory Smithsonian-Institution, Washington, D. C. 20560
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Abstract

A method is described for the x-ray fluorescence analysis of small samples, taken from museum objects, to determine alloy composition. The samples are dissolved in an appropriate reagent and absorbed on cellulose powder. The resulting powder is formed into a film of less than critical thickness and the effective absorption of the sample for the characteristic wavelength of the element being measured is determined. The effective absorption coefficient is used to correct the observed intensities in order to obtain quantitative results.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 1969

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References

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