A nuclear reaction analysis study of fluorine uptake in filint

摘要

Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA) using the ~(19)F(p, alpah gamma )~(16)O resonance reaction is a powerful method of fluorine depth profiling. We have used this method to study the fluorine uptake phoenomenon in mineral flint, which could potentially develop into a method of dating archeological flint artifacts. Flint samples cut with a rock saw were immersed in aqueous fluoride solutions for different times for the uptake study. The results suggest that fluorine uptake is not a simple phenomenon, but rather a combination of several simultaneous processes. Fluorine surface adsportion appears to play an important role in developing the fluorine profiles. The surface adsorption was affected by several parameters such as pH value and fluorine concentration in the solution, among others. The problem of surface charging for the insulator materials during ion bombardment is also reported.