Assembling of a semiportable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and its utilization for the analysis of the pre-hispanic collection of MAE-USP and of pigments of artistic and ornamental mural paintings

• Grant number: 05/01560-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2006
• End date: December 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Augusto Camara Neiva
• Grantee: Augusto Camara Neiva
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The project aims the assembling and starting up of a semiportable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to be used for chemical analysis in the field of the Brazilian archaeological, ethnological, architectural and artistic heritage, and its use for the in situ analysis of alloys and corrosion products of metallic pieces of the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology of USP, and of pigments in afresco paintings and artistic and ornamental XIX and XX-century wall paintings. The spectrometer to be assembled is basically constituted by an X-ray tube, a Si-drift X-ray detector -- both already bougth -- and a portable multichannel analyser. A light and strong holder has to be built. Quantitative analysis will be done with the help of AXIL-QXAS software with standard-sample data. The work at MAE-USP will consist in the characterization of the metallic alloys and corrosion products of a large part of the pre-hispanic collection, which has 76 pieces, as well as of some pieces of the African collection. The characterization of pigments in afresco paintings and wall artistic and ornamental paintings will also be done in works belonging to the University of São Paulo. (AU)