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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

X-ray Powder Diffraction in Conservation Science: Towards Routine Crystal Structure Determination of Corrosion Products on Heritage Art Objects
Published on: June 8, 2016
Study of the gilding technique used in polychromed stones and ceramics by dedicated laboratory-made micro X-ray
A Duran1, J L Perez-Rodriguez, M C Jimenez de Haro
1Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France, CNRS-C2RMF, 14 quai François Mitterrand, Palais du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France. adrian@icmse.csic.es
Abstract:
This work describes the use of a new dedicated laboratory-made micro X-ray diffraction system for detecting the phases present in cross-sections of artworks. As an example, the phases present in samples from gilding ceramics and stone sculptures from the heritage of Seville (Spain) were successfully detected using this new system, which takes advantage of various devices developed for synchrotron radiation, and is complemented by the information provided by other techniques.
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