Portable X-ray Fluorescence (PXRF) The Elemental Analysis
Facility houses two portable X-ray Fluorescence devices, a
Bruker Tracer IV, and an Innov-X Alpha series portable XRF. With
both instruments, it is possible to conduct surface analysis at
the ppm level totally non-destructively on a wide range of
materials including metals, ceramics, obsidian, and glass. The
Bruker Tracer is primarily utilized by our conservation staff,
who use it to identify the composition of pigments and other
colarants on collections objects, aiding them in understanding
the best ways to conserve these objects. Additionally, our
conservationists use XRF to determine the concentration of
arsenic and other toxic metals on older collections objects.
These toxic substances were used early in the history of the
muesum to prevent insects and rodents from damaging collections.
The Innov-X Alpha device is used by our curators and other
research scientists in their field and laboratory projects. As a
portable analytical technique, PXRF can