Calibration of quantitative multiphase analysis in binary copper – tin and ternary copper – tin– lead solution

Historical metallurgy and in particular bronze and other copper alloy metallurgy represents a research topic of strong importance in the study of the artistic and technological evolution of different civilizations.
During ongoing research, based on neutron imaging, diffraction and transmission studies, our group addressed technological, degradation and conservation issues on ancient bronze artifacts. We intend to analyze cast ingots made of binary and ternary alloys containing Cu-Sn and Cu-Sn-Pb respectively, within compositional range derived from elemental analysis of historical bronze artefacts from Ancient Greece to Renaissance time. This proposal is relative to the optimization of multiphase analysis using Rietveld refinement of ToF-ND data. The samples will be analysed also using pyrolysis and SEM-EDX measurements on specifically extracted and prepared parts.
We expect to be able to calibrate lattice parameter displacement in the Cu-Sn alloy and Uiso parameter in order to correctly evaluate the relative concentration of the Cu-Sn and Pb phases. While Uiso for lead was already derived, we expect Uiso will be changing with the Sn content in the Cu-Sn substitutional alloy.