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Application of X-ray nano-CT fluoroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy in the study of ancient bronzes

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Abstract

Nanotechnology is defined as design and production of structures, devices and systems by controlled manipulation of sizes and shapes at atomic, molecular. Through X-ray nano-CT, we have scanned archaeological artifacts that cannot be observed by human eyes without damaging cultural relics, so as to better study and restore protected cultural relics. The principles of X-ray fluoroscopy and fluorescence spectral analysis were introduced, which can obtain information about the internal structure, manufacturing process and erosion of cultural relics. These two techniques were applied to the detection of some bronzes in Shang and Zhou dynasties, and the detection images and data of two bronzes in Shang Dynasty were given. The preservation, casting process and alloy composition were analyzed and discussed. It is determined that the ware is cast by the mud block model method. The discussion and analysis tend to support that the alloy technology originated from the typical ternary alloy system in Shang and Zhou dynasties. During this period, craftsmen have summed up a set of scientific bronze alloy system.

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Funding

This article is a periodical result of the project which called research of bronzes in ba-yu area, and the number of the project is R2019FFY21.

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Correspondence to Xingang Tan.

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The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

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Tan, X. Application of X-ray nano-CT fluoroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy in the study of ancient bronzes. Nanotechnol. Environ. Eng. 7, 965–972 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41204-021-00200-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41204-021-00200-6

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