Material Characterization

We analyze the chemical and structural properties of rocks and archaeomaterials using in-situ EPMA and µ-/p-XRF (no sample prep). Phase assemblages are determined by powder XRD; crystalline phases are identified and quantified from microgram samples (ceramics, mortars, pigments, metals, salts). Where needed, single-crystal XRD is used. In-situ high-temperature (hot-stage) XRD with fast detectors enables real-time tracking of phase transitions and estimation of firing temperatures.

Complementing these compositional and phase analyses, the VIAS Materials Science Laboratory (University of Vienna) investigates prehistoric and historic metallurgy using metallography, surface analysis, SEM-EDS, 3D X-ray tomography, DTA-TG, geochemistry, and isotope studies to address cultural-historical questions. The lab is equipped for metals and metallurgical remains and maintains a 900-sample reference collection of artifacts, slags, ores, and technical ceramics (crucibles, tuyères, furnace linings).

People: Peter Tropper, Biljana Krüger, Clivia Hejny, Mathias Mehofer (VIAS)

Labs:

• EPMA Labor
• Micro-XRF Lab
• Powder XRD Lab
• Materials science Lab (VIAS)

Uibk Equipment:

• JEOL JXA-iSP100 (EPMA)
• Bruker S1 Titan (Model 800, p-XRF)
• Bruker M4 Tornado (µ-XRF)
• Rigaku SmartLab
• High-resolution powder diffractometer Bruker-AXS D8 Discover
• High-resolution powder diffractometer Stoe STADI MP
• Heating chambers for high-temperature powder XRD (Rigaku Reactor-X, Anton Paar HTK-1200N, Rigaku HTA)