From: Recent progress in instrumental techniques for architectural heritage materials
Analytical technique | Destructiveness | Portability | Compatibility with synchrotron radiation sources | Typical applications |
---|---|---|---|---|
OM | Micro-destructive/non-destructive | Portable | No | Morphology characterization of mortar, black crust, brick, ceramic, glass and the corresponding decay processes |
AFM | Micro-destructive | Not portable | No | Surface analysis (roughness, symmetry and gloss level) of materials before and after physical and chemical treatments |
SEM | Destructive | Not portable | No | Surface characterization of mortar, pigment, stone, etc. Equipped with EDX, it can provide elemental analysis |
ESEM | Destructive | Not portable | No | Morphology characterization of biological deposition and biofilm |
TEM | Destructive | Not portable | No | Cross-section characterization of formation mechanism of inorganic and organic compounds present in the interface of different materials |
UV–vis | Destructive | Portable | No | Characterization of pigment and stained glass collected from ancient buildings. |
LIBS | Micro-destructive | Not portable | No | Elemental and cross-section analysis for pigment, stone, brick, etc |
FTIR | Destructive/non-destructive | Portable | No | Identification of organic functional groups in mortar, pigment, black crust, etc |
Raman | Destructive/non-destructive | Portable | No | Characterization of pigment and dye used in architectural heritage |
TG/DTA/DSC | Destructive | Not portable | No | Identification of the degree of carbonation and hydration reactions of mortars |
XRF | Destructive/non-destructive | Portable | Yes | Major and trace elemental analysis for pigment, stone, mortar, etc. Assessment of biological and pollution impact on architectural materials |
XRD | Destructive | Portable | Yes | Identification of crystalline phases of mortar, brick, pigment, stone, additive, etc |
XPS | Destructive | Not portable | No | Characterization of surface contamination or corrosion products |
XAS (XANES/EXAFS) | Non-destructive | Not portable | Yes | Detection of specific elements presented in glass, pigment, stone, ceramic, metal, mortar, wood, etc |
PIXE/PIGE | Non-destructive | Not portable | No | Identification of elements at trace level presented in pigment, glass, mortar, etc |
MS-based techniques | Destructive | Not portable | No | Identification and quantification of unknown organic compounds at molecular level |