Abstract
Scanning microscopy techniques have emerged as powerful scientific tools for analysing materials of architectural or archaeological interest, since the commercialization of the first scanning electron microscopy instrumentation in the early 60s. This study is aimed at reviewing and highlighting the significance of several scanning microscopy techniques employed in the protection of built heritage. The diffusion of scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (SEM-EDX) is proven to be the widest among the available scanning microscopy techniques, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) applications are steadily present in the field of built heritage protection. The building material characterization, the weathering mechanism investigation, and the development of compatible and performing conservation materials are some major research areas where the application of the aforementioned techniques is discussed. The range of techniques, along with aspects of instrumentation and sample preparation are, also, considered.
Highlights
(i) Molecular chemical composition (ii) Qualitative analysis (i) Molecular chemical composition (ii) Qualitative analysis (i) Elemental chemical composition (ii) Quantitative analysis (i) Mineralogical composition (ii) Semiquantitative analysis (i) Elemental chemical composition (i) Isotopic determination (i) Separation techniques (ii) gas chromatography (GC)/high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) mainly employed in organic compounds (iii) IC employed in inorganic compounds (i) Elemental chemical composition (ii) Qualitative & quantitative analysis (i) Molecular chemical composition
These findings provided the basis for the design of appropriate restoration mortars which could exhibit these supreme qualities in addition to enhanced compatibility, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can serve as a tool in confirming the optimum formation of the C-S-H gel
TEM applications, on the other hand, are not so commonly found in the field of built heritage, mainly due to the heterogeneity that building materials present, a fact that leads to reduced applicability of this technique, without ignoring
Summary
Chemical analyses like atomic absorption spectroscopy/atomic emission spectroscopy (AAS/AES), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS), laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), particleinduced X-ray emission (PIXE), and particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) are used They present significant limitations, as they are not able to detect the exact composition and structure of materials, they require a great amount of sample or complicated preparation routes, and they are time-consuming. The classical approach in microscopy involves the use of optical and petrographic microscopy These techniques are relatively simple and versatile tools for the textural examination and the petrographical/mineralogical composition of a range of building materials, such us stones, limes, mortars, tiles, bricks, glasses, metals, and wood. (i) Molecular chemical composition (ii) Qualitative analysis (i) Elemental chemical composition (ii) Quantitative analysis (i) Mineralogical composition (ii) Semiquantitative analysis (i) Isotopic determination (i) Separation techniques (ii) GC/HPLC mainly employed in organic compounds (iii) IC employed in inorganic compounds (i) Elemental chemical composition (ii) Qualitative & quantitative analysis
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