Testing the applicability of handheld portable XRF to the characterisation of archaeological copper alloys

Abstract

Falling costs, smaller sizes and increasingly user-friendly interfaces have led to the wide use of HHpXRF to the analyses of cultural heritage objects. Methodological considerations on the validity of results derived from HHpXRF have led to debates in conservation and archaeological literature. Relatively little attention has been paid to the applicability of HHpXRF to the characterisation of archaeological copper alloys. This paper evaluates the use of Bruker AXS Tracer III-SD on a range of certified copper alloys selected based on their occurrence in antiquity. Alloys are then electrochemically corroded and analysed to examine the impact of corrosion layers on HHpXRF data. Qualitative and quantitative data processing methods are compared and the impact of source-to-sample distance on the HHpXRF results is examined. The implications and relevance of data accuracy is discussed with regards to the archaeological interpretation and uses in conservation.

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