X-ray investigation of graphic art

Abstract

X-rays produced by electron ionization provide an analytical tool that can assist investigations in the field of Artistic and Cultural Heritage. In this study, the technique of Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXF) was employed to investigate collections of postcards from the 1960s produced in Brazil, London and Uruguay. The collections belong to private collections and were made available for analysis at the Radiation Spectroscopy and Spectrometry Laboratory of the Institute for Nuclear and Energy Research (IPEN). This technique is non-destructive and allows the identification of chemical elements present in the different chemical formulations used in the printing industries of each country in the process of preparing postcards. This information allows tracing their origin and identifying copies/fakes, which enables their cataloging and registration for exhibition, as well as providing subsidies for conservators and restorers regarding the preservation and storage of these artistic materials.