Non destructive neutron diffraction measurements of cavities, inhomogeneities, and residual strain in bronzes of Ghiberti's relief from the Gates of Paradise

Journal Article · Tue Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3560915· OSTI ID:21538184

Festa, G; Senesi, R; Alessandroni, M; Andreani, C; Vitali, G ^[1]; Porcinai, S; Giusti, A M ^[2]; Materna, T ^[3]; Paradowska, A M ^[4]

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1. Universita degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Dipartimento di Fisica and Centre NAST Via della R. Scientifica 1, Rome (Italy)
2. Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence (Italy)
3. Institut Laue-Langevin 6, rue Jules Horowitz, BP 156, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9 (France)
4. ISIS Neutron Scattering Facility-Science and Technology Facility Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX (United Kingdom)

Quantitative neutron studies of cultural heritage objects provide access to microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic structures in a nondestructive manner. In this paper we present a neutron diffraction investigation of a Ghiberti Renaissance gilded bronze relief devoted to the measurement of cavities and inhomogeneities in the bulk of the sample, along with the bulk phase composition and residual strain distribution. The quantitative measurements allowed the determination of the re-melting parts extension, as well as improving current knowledge about the manufacturing process. The study provides significant and unique information to conservators and restorators about the history of the relief.

• OSTI ID: 21538184
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 109, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3560915; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BRONZE
CAVITIES
DISTRIBUTION
MANUFACTURING
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
PROCESSING
RESIDUAL STRESSES
SOLIDS
STRAINS
TRANSLOCATION
ALLOYS
COHERENT SCATTERING
COPPER ALLOYS
COPPER BASE ALLOYS
DIFFRACTION
MATERIALS TESTING
SCATTERING
STRESSES
TESTING
TIN ALLOYS
TRANSITION ELEMENT ALLOYS