Portable Minute Parts Fluorescent XRF Spectrometer with Satisfies X-ray Control Area Setting Standards for the Analysis of the Ink Character Written on Paper

Abstract

In order to perform on-site X-ray fluorescence analysis of minute part of ink character written on paper, developed a small portable X-ray fluorescence system with a measurement room that satisfies the criteria for setting the X-ray control area. The measurement room is a box-shaped (width 500×depth 500×height 600 mm) container in which the top plate and front door are made of a transparent acrylic plate containing 0.3 mm equivalent of lead, and the other plates are covered with an iron plate to prevent leakage of X-rays. The X-ray fluorescence system combined a small X-ray generator from Amptek, a Si-PIN detector, and a digital pulse height analyzer. Using this device, the fluorescent X-ray spectra of characters written on paper with three types of inks manufactured from 1955 to 1965 were measured. As a result, it was confirmed that the metals contained (Cr, Mn, Fe) differ depending on the type of ink, and that the old ink contained unique elements.