Analysis of copper alloys by proton beams

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Abstract

The PIXE method has been applied primarily for the nondestructive elemental analysis of ancient copper coins. However, the high yields of the copper X-rays and the high background which is created, cause serious difficulties in the accurate determination of zinc, nickel, iron and in general for the elements with medium and low atomic numbers. For this reason, the complementary methods of proton-induced prompt gamma ray emission (PIGE) and proton activation methods have beem explored. The minimum detection limits for the various elements in copper-based alloys have been determined experimentally and compared for the three methods.

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    Citation Excerpt :

    It has been found that the high yields of the copper X-rays and the high background which is created, cause serious difficulties in the accurate determination of zinc, nickel, iron, and in general for the elements with medium and low atomic numbers. For this reason, PIGE has been explored as complementary method to PIXE [10]. Furthermore, because of the relatively low-energy KX-rays of copper, analysis of copper by PIXE have disadvantages of matrix effects (self-absorption of X-rays), especially if where copper coexist in matrices with other heavy elements (e.g. such as metallic compounds), and of limited probing depth even at high bombarding energies.

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    2007, Atomic and Nuclear Analytical Methods: XRF, Mössbauer, XPS, NAA and Ion-Beam Spectroscopic Techniques

Supported in part by UNESCO.

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