NAA and XRF techniques to investigate artistic paints

Abstract

In this study, the multielemental characterization of artistic blue paints from the 90's and currently available ones in the Brazilian market was carried out using the Energy Dispersion X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and Neutron Activation Analysis techniques (NAA). These results aim to establish a reference database in the field. The EDXRF measurements was performed using portable X-ray spectrometer with Ag X-ray tube associated with a Si Drift detector (25 mm2 x 500 μm) with Be window (12.5 μm). The artistic paint samples were irradiated for 300 s using 30 kV and 5μA excitation. The quantitative analysis was performed using WinQXas software program (IAEA, version 1.3). The NAA measurements were performed in the nuclear reactor IEA-R1 (3.5- 4.5MW, pool type) at IPEN/CNEN-SP. Each sample was irradiated from minutes to hours and gamma counting was performed using HPGe detector (ORTEC-GEM 60195) coupled to an MCA (ORTEC - 919E). Concentration of all elements was obtained using the ATIVAÇÃO software. The results obtained by both techniques are in good agreement, in addition to being complementary. However, they do not correspond to the elemental content description provided by the manufacturer.