Supported projects

The LAPA jointly operates, between IRAMAT and NIMBE, a shared technical platform comprising several analytical research instruments, which also aims to host personnel from other laboratories within the Île-de-France area. The SEM is a key piece of equipment within this analytical platform. In addition to its intrinsic capabilities for high-magnification electron imaging, it is equipped with a coupled EDX system that enables the automated detection of particles or specific zones (by chemical contrast or backscattered electrons). This feature allows large-scale quantification (up to several thousand per object) of micro-inclusions trapped in heritage metals, as well as rapid, statistical study of heterogeneities within the different parts of these complex ancient metal systems (including their corrosion products). In order to keep the workflows for provenance determination and radiocarbon dating of ferrous metals fully operational, and to provide an instrument optimized for the analysis of metals and their alteration products, the acquisition of new equipment is planned: a high-resolution field emission SEM (FEG) with a large chamber, and a high-performance EDS system (large window detector) allowing rapid and automated multi-field analysis with particle detection and characterization.