Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization/secondary neutral mass spectrometry and cesium attachment secondary ion mass spectrometry of bronze: a comparison

Archaeologists have considerable interests in ancient bronzes. They want to know how these alloys were produced and how they corroded with time. Modern bronzes, with compositions very close to that of some ancient bronzes, have been produced and two methods were examined to characterize one of these modern bronzes. Analysis of this modern bronze using resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization/secondary neutral mass spectrometry (REMPI/SNMS) is examined in detail and compared to cesium attachment secondary ion mass spectrometry (CsAMS) results. Both REMPI/SNMS and CsAMS were used to quantify the composition of Fe, Ni and Mn in a modern quaternary bronze designed to serve as a certified reference material for an ancient bronze. Both methods exhibit reduced matrix effects when compared to secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and thus quantification should be simplified. It was found that when relative sensitivity factors obtained from a standard bronze material are used to calibrate the instruments, the REMPI/SNMS measurements yield results that were more sensitive and more accurate. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.