Complementarity of XRFS and LIBS for corrosion studies
J A Pérez-Serradilla1, A Jurado-López, M D Luque de Castro
1Department of Analytical Chemistry, Annex C-3, Campus of Rabanales, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Talanta
|December 17, 2008
Summary
Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) and laser-induced break-down spectroscopy (LIBS) offer complementary analyses of ancient coins. XRFS reveals surface composition, aiding LIBS in providing in-depth, elemental, and tomographic insights into corrosion.
Area of Science:
- Archaeometry
- Materials Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Ancient coins present analytical challenges due to varying corrosion levels and compositions.
- Non-destructive analytical techniques are crucial for preserving cultural heritage artifacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the complementary capabilities of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) and laser-induced break-down spectroscopy (LIBS) for analyzing ancient coins.
- To assess the effectiveness of these techniques in characterizing surface and bulk composition, especially in the presence of corrosion.
Main Methods:
- Utilized energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) for superficial elemental analysis.
- Employed laser-induced break-down spectroscopy (LIBS) for in-depth and tomographic elemental profiling.
- Correlated XRFS surface data with LIBS depth profiles for comprehensive analysis.
Main Results:
- XRFS effectively identified superficial impurities (e.g., Ag, Cl, Au, Sr, Sb).
- LIBS provided in-depth elemental concentration, revealing iron in corroded alloys undetectable by XRFS.
- Averaging LIBS data across sampling points improved signal-to-noise ratio at the expense of spatial resolution.
Conclusions:
- The combined use of XRFS and LIBS offers a powerful, complementary approach for detailed analysis of ancient coins.
- LIBS is particularly valuable for assessing bulk composition and internal structure, overcoming limitations of surface-sensitive techniques like XRFS in corroded samples.
- Optimizing LIBS acquisition strategies (e.g., averaging) can enhance data quality for specific research questions.
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