Materials Characterization

PAMS group employs a variety of techniques for characterizing materials including metal antiquities, archaeometallurgical ceramics and waste products, mural / wall paintings, portable panel paintings (icons), colored decorations on manuscripts as well as ceramics and other archaeomaterials.

 A variety of scientific methods are used, depending on the nature of the material under question. Luminescence dating, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), backed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), metallography, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, micro-Raman and infrared spectroscopy (μ-Raman & FTIR) are some of the techniques which can be performed at our facilities and the shared instruments of N.C.S.R. “Demokritos”.

Cross-section of an early 18th century icon. Left: optical microscopy (200x)

Right: Scanning Electron Microscopy (BSE, 3000x).

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