Non-destructive Spectrometric Determination of Trace Element Concentration of Rubidium, Strontium, Yttrium Zirconium and Niobium in Ceramics

Abstract

A simple X-ray spectrometric method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of the trace elements Rb, Sr, Y, Zr and Nb in Chinese porcelains is described. The results of the analysis show that Jingdezhen porcelains from later Ming to the Republic period have concentrations of these elements lying within narrow ranges whereas modern (after World War II) porcelains, whether Jingdezhen or otherwise, have concentrations of one or more of these elements lying outside these ranges. This offers a simple nondestructive method of detecting modern fakes.