Classification of lead white pigments using synchrotron radiation micro X-ray diffraction

Lead white pigment was used and synthesised for cosmetic and artistic purposes since the antiquity. Ancient texts describe the various recipes, and preparation processes as well as locations of production. In this study, we describe the results achieved on several paint samples taken from Matthias Grünewald’s works. Grünewald, who was active between 1503 and 1524, was a major painter at the beginning of the German Renaissance. Thanks to X-ray diffraction analysis using synchrotron radiation, it is possible to associate the composition of the paint samples with the masters ancient recipes. Different approaches were used, in reflection and transmission modes, directly on minute samples or on paint cross-sections embedded in resin. Characterisation of lead white pigments reveals variations in terms of composition, graininess and proportion of mineral phases. The present work enlightens the presence of lead white as differentiable main composition groups, which could be specific of a period, a know-how or a geographical origin. In this way, we aim at understanding the choices and the trading of pigments used to realise paintings during northern European Renaissance. PACS 61.10.Nz; 07.85.Qe; 61.43.Gt     

同步辐射软X射线显微成像

软X射线显微成像是同步辐射最主要的应用之一,本文简明介绍软X射线显微成像的衬度机制,光源,成像方法和一些应用结果。     

Crystal microstructure of annealed nanocrystalline Chromium studied by synchrotron radiation diffraction

The microstructure of electrodeposited nanocrystalline chromium (n-Cr) was studied by using synchrotron radiation (SR) diffraction, SEM, TEM, and EDX techniques. The as-prepared n-Cr samples show the standard bcc crystal structure of Cr with volume-averaged column lengths varying from 25 to 30 nm. The grain growth kinetics and the oxidation kinetics were studied by time resolved SR diffraction measurements with n-Cr samples annealed at 400, 600, and 800 °C. The grain growth process is relatively fast and it occurs within the first 10 min of annealing. The final crystallite size depends only on the annealing temperature and not on the initial grain size or on the oxygen content. The final volume-averaged column lengths observed after 50 min annealing are 40(4), 80(1), and 120(2) nm for temperatures 400, 600, and 800 °C, respectively. It is shown that annealing ex situ of n-Cr at 800 °C both under vacuum and in air gives a grain growth process with the same final crystallite sizes. The formation of the Cr₂O₃ and CrH phases is observed during annealing.     

X-ray diffraction studies of Pompeian wall paintings using synchrotron radiation and dedicated laboratory made systems

The full identification of artwork materials requires not only elemental analysis but also structural information of the compounds as provided by X-ray diffraction (XRD). This is easily done when taking samples (or micro-samples) from artworks. However, there is an increasing interest in performing non-destructive studies that require adapted XRD systems. Comparative study of synchrotron high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction (SR-HRPD) and laboratory non-destructive systems (portable XRD and micro-XRD) is the main objective of this work. There are no qualitative differences among the three systems as for detected phases in the Pompeian wall paintings that were studied, except in the case of minority phases which only were detected by SR-HRPD. The identified pigments were goethite, hematite, cinnabar, glauconite, Pompeian blue, together with calcite, dolomite and aragonite. Synchrotron XRD diagrams show better resolution than the others. In general, the peak widths in the diagrams obtained with the portable XRD system are similar to those obtained by micro-diffraction equipment. Factors such as residual divergence of X-ray sources, incidence angle and slit or collimator size are discussed in relation with the quality of XRD diagrams.     

Angular dispersive diffraction using a diamond-anvil pressure cell and synchrotron X-ray source

Abstract

Wavelength dispersive diffraction studies have been performed using a diamond-anvil pressure cell and bending magnet synchrotron produced radiation. A double-crystal monochromator was used to select 15 and 17 keV photons and a 80 μm diameter collimator was used to restrict the beam entering the pressure cavity. Parallelism between the incident beam and the collimator axis was assisted by computer control of the collimator. The image of the transmitted beam was observed using a Hamamatsu x-ray Vidicon and TV monitor, for this alignment. The diffracted beam was recorded on x-ray film using a double film cassette and exposure times ranged from 6 to 8 hours. Neither the exposure time nor the line width of the diffraction lines was significantly altered by replacement of the incident beam collimator with a slit system.     

Investigation of nanostructured Fe3O4 polypyrrole core-shell composites by X-ray absorbtion spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation

In this article, we focus on the structural peculiarities of nanosized Fe₃O₄ in the core-shell nanocomposites obtained by polymerization of conducting polypyrrole shell around Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The local structure of Fe atoms was determined from the Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure analysis using our own package computer programs. An X-ray diffraction method that is capable to determine average particle size, microstrains, as the particle size distribution of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles is presented. The method is based on the Fourier analysis of a single X-ray diffraction profile using a new fitting method based on the generalized Fermi function facilities. The crystallites size obtained by X-ray diffraction spectra analysis was estimated between 3.2 and 10.3 nm. Significant changes in the first and the second Fe coordination shell in comparison with standard bulk were observed. The global and local structure of the nanosized Fe₃O₄ are correlated with the synthesis conditions of the core-shell polypyrrole nanocomposites.     

Non-destructive synchrotron X-ray diffraction mapping of a Roman painting

The history and the properties of materials are deduced not only from their elemental and molecular signatures, but also from their exact phase compositions, and from the structures and the defects of their constituents. Here we implement a non-destructive synchrotron X-ray based method, which combines both the quantitative structural content of diffraction and the imaging mode. As a demonstration case, the pigments of a Roman wall painting are examined. The joined elemental and mineral maps mimic the major features of the painting. Different structural phases made of common atomic elements are differentiated. Textures and graininess are measured and related to the artist’s know-how. PACS 07.85.Qe; 61.10.Nz; 83.85.Hf     

Photoemission studies of a clean and oxidized niobium-aluminum alloy using synchrotron radiation

The alloy formation and oxidation of a Nb-rich Nb-Al alloy has been studied using core level photoemission in combination with synchroton radiation as a surface sensitive probe. Exactly the same chemical shifts were observed from both the Nb-Al alloy and an Al-evaporated Nb surface, indicating similar structural arrangements. It is found that the oxidation rate of Nb in these structures is drastically decreased in comparison to either pure Nb metal or Nb₃Sn. Two stages in the oxidation of the Nb-Al alloy are clearly distinguished by chemical shifts of the Al_2p, Nb_4p and O_2p levels.     

X-ray synchrotron radiation in medium

Energy and angular distributions of X-ray synchrotron radiation produced by an ultra relativistic electron moving in a medium are discussed. Calculations show that the medium suppresses strongly the yield of the radiation for the electron Lorentz factor smaller than some cut-off value depending on the medium electron density and magnetic field applied.     

X-ray lithography with synchrotron radiation

Manufactures of silicon integrated circuits increasingly rely on high resolution, high throughput, and litography techniques based on parallel mask projection. The once simple technique of projecting an image of a mask on a wafer, however, is now being replaced by more elaborate systems at an ever faster rate. Of the possible successors to photolithography in the production of structures smaller than 0.7 m, the most promising appears to be X-ray litography with synchrotron radiation. The development problems of this new technique are related to the mask technology, alignment systems, resist materials, and compact, low-cost storage rings.     

用同步辐射X射线衍射技术分析GaN/Si外延膜的结构与应变

选用有AlN和AlGaN缓冲层的GaN/Si作为测试样品,采用同步辐射X射线衍射(SRXRD)技术对样品外延膜(GaN)的几何结构、晶格常量及其应变进行了分析.结果表明,同步辐射X射线衍射实验可以作为一种有效的技术手段,测试固体结构及应变.     

高压下的同步辐射能量色散粉末衍射

 同步辐射已经成为高压研究的一个非常理想的光源。在北京同步辐射装置（BSRF）上、结合金刚石对顶砧超高压实验技术建立起来的能量色散X射线粉末衍射系统,已用于物质状态方程和结构相变的研究。介绍了能量色散衍射方法,以及同步辐射原位测试过程。     

Thermal equation-of-state of osmium: a synchrotron X-ray diffraction study

The pressure-volume-temperature behavior of osmium was studied at pressures and temperatures up to 15 GPa and 1273 K. In situ measurements were conducted using energy-dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction in a T-cup 6-8 high pressure apparatus. A fit of room-temperature data by the third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation-of-state yielded isothermal bulk modulus K₀=435(19) GPa and its pressure derivative K′₀=3.5(0.8) GPa. High-temperature data were analyzed using Birch-Murnaghan equation of state and thermal pressure approach. The temperature derivative of bulk modulus was found to be −0.061(9) GPa K⁻¹. Significant anisotropy of osmium compressibility was observed.     

Investigation of craze development using small-angle X-ray scattering of synchrotron radiation

The development of crazes in polycarbonate was investigated with the method of ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) of synchrotron radiation. Measurements at different temperatures and with different draw rates were carried out. The two-dimensional scattering patterns were analyzed by means of a fibrillar model of the craze. The geometrical parameters of the craze as a function of the macroscopic draw ratio were determined by using a curve-fitting procedure. From the measured values of the diameter and the mean distance of the fibrils, it is possible to calculate the volume fraction v_f of the fibrils directly. Additional scattering caused by submicrocracks is discussed.     

X-ray magnetooptics based on synchrotron radiation

The conditions for obtaining a maximum magnetic signal in different experiment geometries have been analyzed on the basis of the general theory of reflection from a layered anisotropic medium. It is shown that, in the equatorial geometry in Bragg reflections from a periodic structure with antiferromagnetic interlayer ordering, amplification of linear dichroism arises, which can be observed even in the grazing geometry.     

高压Ni77P23非晶合金自由体积变化的同步辐射研究

利用同步辐射高能X光散射的方法,研究了室温下非晶合金Ni77P23的自由体积的变化所引起的压缩行为的变化规律,通过傅里叶变换得到不同压力下的径向分布函数,并由此获得了不同压力下,该非晶合金的配位数、近邻原子间距等原子构型的结构信息. 研究表明,至直30.5GPa压力,Ni77P23合金仍保持稳定的非晶结构,根据Bridgman方程通过拟合数据,得到状态方程为 -ΔV/V0=0.08606P-3.2×10-4P2+5.7×10-6P3.