Analysis of metal alloys by Rayleigh to Compton ratios and X-ray fluorescence peaks in the 50 to 122 keV energy range☆

Abstract A method for nondestructive analysis of metal alloys able to explore inner strata of material up to ⩾ 100 μ m is described. The method employs two or more low-energy γ-ray radioactive sources in a backscattering geometry (Θ = 135°). The ratio R C between elastic ( R ) and inelastic ( C ) scattered components together with the ratio I C between the X-ray fluorescence intensity lin higher- Z elements (e.g. Pb in a bronze matrix or Au in a gold matrix) and the Compton ( C ) is taken into account in order to evaluate the main element weight fractions of the alloy. The calibration coefficients for a four component bronze alloy were determined by multivariate analysis on standard bronze samples. The precision on each of the weight fraction obtained was equal or better than some percent in a measuring time of ≅ 1000 s.