APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY TO ART IDENTIFICATION PROBLEMS - THIRD ANNUAL REPORT

摘要

The third year's effort under the subject contract is reviewed. The use of neutron activation analysis (NAA) to distinguish between sources of lead white is shown to be effective when:(1) samples are treated to remove extraneous materials;and (2) data are handled on the basis of probable trace element concentration distributions. A similar application of NAA for distinguishing between synthetic material is also presented. Several results demonstrating the practical application of the natural alpha radioactivity lead "dating" technique are presented. The final design and some applications of a small-sample, low-level carbon-14 detector are described. This counter is shown to be useful for discerning between linseed oil of recent (since ca 1960) and older (before ca 1952) origin including that found in paintings. A preliminary exploration of the application of alpha-recoil track dating techniques to materials of art is described.