Portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence equipment for the analysis of cultural heritage

Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) especially in its portable version, generally characterized by a small X-ray tube and a Si-PIN or Si-drift detector is particularly useful to analyse works of art. EDXRF technique is nondestructive, noninvasive and multielemental. A variety of works, such as paintings of all types (including frescos and illuminated manuscripts), bronzes and brasses, gold alloys, silver alloys, ceramics, porcelains and faiences, papers, ink, stones of all types (marbles, obsidians etc.), stamps, etc. can be studied using a portable EDXRF equipment. In this paper, examples are given for analysis of the works of art with a portable EDXRF equipment.