Simultaneous use and self-consistent analyses of μ-PIXE and μ-EBS for the characterization of corrosion layers grown on ancient coins

Abstract The study of corrosion products in two XVI century coins through the simultaneous and self-consistent μ-PIXE and μ-EBS spectra analyses is presented in this work. The fitted spectra give consistent results, showing the feasibility of this approach to determine in a fast and non-destructive way the elemental composition and concentration depth profiles of the corrosion layers.