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This paper reports the analysis of a single crystal copper rod aiming to characterize the microstructural features related to the homogeneity of the single crystal growth and the presence, shape and extension of spatially distributed misaligned grains or areas. The analytical method used for such analysis is wavelength scan neutron radiography and monochromatic neutron tomography. Such methods allow determination of the extent of differently oriented single crystal areas, identifying the most part of the rod volume as a single domain. It was also possible to characterize the spatial distribution and the degree of alignment of local point-like or extended defects.

Heritage Science HS spans a large variety of objects and materials, as well as anything that has historic, artistic, anthropological, and natural significance. This paper aims to bridge the gap between the physical and natural sciences and the humanities, and divulge neutron imaging techniques to a wider community. Here we give an introduction of the neutron imaging capabilities at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source (UK), and a brief overview of some research activities in HS carried out at the facility in recent years, from neutron tomography to elemental imaging.

This communication presents the results obtained at an experimental campaign at PSI BOA beamline using the combination of the ANET Compact Neutron Collimator (CNC) with the actual BOA pin-hole system. Through extensive resolution campaigns, it has been possible to quantify and understand the effects of improvement on the beam divergence when combining the two collimating systems. A new theoretical approach to this problem is described and discussed. The effect is expected not to be limited to the specific case that has been studied at PSI BOA but to have a more general validity for neutron collimation systems.

The evolution of metallurgy is a fundamental aspect related to the knowledge of the technological level of ancient civilizations, for which the information was mostly part of an oral tradition. The ancient, preserved artefacts are the only keepers of this long gone knowledge. Most advanced non-invasive techniques provide us the key to access it. Neutron techniques are nowadays the only available approach for revealing, non-destructively and with good spatial resolution, the morphological and microstructural properties within the whole volume of densely composed artefacts such as bronze statues. Application of neutron methods allows us to learn about ancient artefact manufacturing methods and to study at a very detailed level the current conservation status in their different parts. As part of a research project dedicated to the study of ancient Asian bronzes led by the Rijksmuseum Metal Conservation Department, four statues from the Rijksmuseum Asian collection were analysed using non-invasive neutron techniques. In this work, we present the investigation of a South Indian bronze statuette depicting Shiva in the form of Chandrasekhara (AK-MAK-1291, c. 1000–1200 A.D.) by means of white beam tomography, energy-selective neutron imaging (performed on CONRAD-2 at HZB, DE, and on FISH at TU-Delft, NL), and neutron diffraction (on ENGIN-X at ISIS, UK). The application of neutron imaging revealed the inner structure of the statue and allowed us to investigate the conservation state and potential cracking on the surface and in the bulk, to understand the interconnection of the different sections of the statue, and to obtain clues about the manufacturing processes. These morphological and microstructural results were employed to guide neutron diffraction analyses that allowed us to precisely characterize compositional differences, the presence of dendrites and columnar growth peak structures related to casting. This work is a complete non-invasive analytical investigation on an archaeological bronze artefact, providing outstanding results: from a quantitative analysis of the composition and microstructure to an in-depth morphological analysis capable of unveiling details on the ancient casting methods of the statue.

The “Valles Cruceños” rural region plays a fundamental role for securing food and other resources for the neighboring, and fast sprawling, city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia). Due to the increasing pressure on its natural resources, the region is affected by progressive and severe environmental degradation, as many other rural regions in South and Central America. In this situation, sound policies and governance for sustainable land management are weak and not supported by data and scientific research outputs. With the present study, we aim at developing a novel and practical integrated hazard analysis methodology, supporting the evidence-based understanding of hazard patterns and informing risk assessment processes in the urban-rural continuum. Firstly, the main environmental hazards affecting the area were identified via questionnaire campaigns, held by the staff of local municipalities. Focusing on the hazards mostly perceived by the inhabitants of the region, including deforestation, water pollution and precipitation changes, hazard maps were created by using multiple environmental hazards indicators. An integrated hazard map was then built in a GIS environment, after a pair-wise comparison process. The maps represent a first baseline for the analysis of the present status of natural resources in “Valles Cruceños” area, and the proposed approach can be scaled up for integrated environmental hazards analysis in similar areas of Latin America.

Lo studio di oggetti di interesse storico-artistico in metallo rappresenta una delle tematiche più stimolanti nell’ambito delle indagini scientifiche applicate ai beni culturali. Se da una parte infatti numerose sono le domande che gli addetti ai lavori, come storici dell’arte, restauratori e studiosi di tecniche antiche, si pongono di fronte ad essi, dall’altra, la complessità della procedura che porta alla realizzazione dell’opera fa sì che le tecniche di indagine comunemente utilizzate per studiarla non sempre siano in grado di descrivere e interpretarne tutti gli aspetti. È questo, per esempio, il caso di opere ottenute mediante fusione sulle quali le indagini hanno lo scopo di mettere in luce diverse caratteristiche fra le quali le più rilevanti sono sicuramente la composizione della lega e la tecnica utilizzata dall’autore per la loro realizzazione.

In occasione della mostra \"Plasmato dal fuoco : la scultura in bronzo nella Firenze degli ultimi Medici\" svoltasi presso le stanze del Tesoro dei Granduchi di Palazzo Pitti, un intervento di restauro sul Modello per la statua del Nettuno di Giambologna, anche in virtù del rapporto pregresso da tempo avviato con il museo. L’opera era stata visionata dalle restauratrici del settore in precedenti occasioni su richiesta di Mark Gregory D’Apuzzo, direttore del dipartimento Bronzi del museo. Quando si è presentata l’opportunità dell’esposizione a Pitti si è cercato di coglierla nonostante i tempi stretti, poiché sarebbe stato comunque molto complicato sostenere l’intervento in altro modo, soprattutto dal punto di vista economico.

The ANET project aims at developing 2D compact neutron collimators for neutron imaging applications. The results of the ANET collimator performances, presented in this communication, are based on data collected at the FISH beamline at TU-Delft. Two independent methods to evaluate the neutron radiography resolution are described and discussed, as well as a comparison of the beam divergence with or without the ANET collimator.