Effect of heating and neutron irradiation on the FTIR dating Articles uri icon

publication date

  • January 2025

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 7

issue

  • 1

volume

  • 208

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0026-265X

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1095-9149

abstract

  • In this work, we provide an analysis of the Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectra of several modern linen samples that had been irradiated with neutrons. A nondestructive dating method based on this FTIR spectroscopy was developed for archaeological linen textiles. Its uncertainty is considerably greater than the usual radiocarbon dating (C14). However, rare effects such as neutron irradiation could modify the C14 dating and make it not applicable. FTIR, although it is not a competitive dating method, could exclude or confirm those uncommon events and therefore the applicability of the C14 dating. To explore this utility, we analyze whether the FTIR dating method would still be applicable in a neutron irradiation event. On the other hand, the effects of heating on the FTIR dating must also be analyzed. Among other cases, this study could apply to the case of the Shroud of Turin. Furthermore, we propose a nondestructive FTIR test to elucidate whether or not this purported relic received a neutron irradiation.

subjects

  • Materials science and engineering
  • Nuclear Energy

keywords

  • ancient textiles; ftir; dating; neutron irradiation; natural aging; archaeological textiles; turin shroud