The use of neutron analysis techniques for detecting the concentration and distribution of chloride ions in archaeological iron

Watkinson, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5696-9780, Rimmer, Melanie, Kasztovszky, Zsolt, Kis, Zoltan, Maróti, Boglárka and Szentmiklósi, László 2013. The use of neutron analysis techniques for detecting the concentration and distribution of chloride ions in archaeological iron. Archaeometry n/a 10.1111/arcm.12058

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Abstract

Chloride (Cl) ions diffuse into iron objects during burial and drive corrosion after excavation. Located under corrosion layers, Cl is inaccessible to many analytical techniques. Neutron analysis offers non-destructive avenues for determining Cl content and distribution in objects. A pilot study used prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) and prompt gamma activation imaging (PGAI) to analyse the bulk concentration and longitudinal distribution of Cl in archaeological iron objects. This correlated with the object corrosion rate measured by oxygen consumption, and compared well with Cl measurement using a specific ion meter. High-Cl areas were linked with visible damage to the corrosion layers and attack of the iron core. Neutron techniques have significant advantages in the analysis of archaeological metals,including penetration depth and low detection limits.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	History, Archaeology and Religion
Subjects:	C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Archaeological iron; PGAA; PGAI; Neutron tomography; Neutron radiography; Chloride; Corrosion; Conservation; Elemental analysis
Additional Information:	Joint article along with colleagues from the Institute of Isotopes, Hungary. Online publication date: 17 October 2013.
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	0003-813X
Funders:	AHRC, EPSRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	20 May 2023 21:43
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/52329

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