Pigments analysis and gold layer thickness evaluation of polychromy on wood objects by PXRF

Abstract

The X-ray fluorescence technique by energy dispersion (EDXRF), being a multi elemental and non-destructive technique, has been widely used in the analysis of artworks and archeometry. An X-ray fluorescence portable equipment from the Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Physics of the State University of Londrina (LFNA/UEL) was used for the measurement of pigments in golden parts of a Gilding Preparation Standard Plaque and also pigments measurement on the Wood Adornment of the High Altar Column of the Side Pulpit of the Immaculate Conception Church Parish Sao Paulo-SP. The portable X-ray fluorescence PXRF-LFNA-02 consists of an X-ray tube with Ag anode, a Si-PIN detector (FWHM=221eV for Mn line at 5.9keV), a chain of electronics nuclear standard of X-ray spectrometer, a multichannel 8K, a notebook and a mechanical system designed for the positioning of detector and X-ray tube, which allows movements with two degrees of freedom from the system of excitation–detection. The excitation–detection time of each measurement was 100 and 500s, respectively. The presence of elements Ti, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn and Au was found in the golden area of the Altar Column ornament. On the other hand, analysis of the ratios for the intensities of Kα/Kβ lines measured in the areas made it possible to explore the possibility of measuring the stratigraphies of the layers of pigments and to estimate the thickness of the same.