Neutron and Synchrotron Imaging Studies of Preservation State of Metal of Cultural Heritage Objects

Abstract

This paper analyzes the results of studies carried out at the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, using the methods of neutron and X-ray synchrotron tomography from the point of view of the preservation state of metal objects. Objects damaged by corrosion and exposure to fire were the focus of this study. To identify regions of metal preservation, the diffraction contrast on grains of metal, observed in tomographic projections, was used. The simultaneous use of neutron and synchrotron imaging is shown to be a powerful tool for identification of the constituents of an object.

Keywords

• synchrotron tomography
• neutron tomography
• cultural heritage
• preservation
• corrosion
• funeral pyre