{"id":1,"date":"2025-06-23T19:41:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T19:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/materialsscience.univie.ac.at\/?p=1"},"modified":"2026-02-07T10:49:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T10:49:06","slug":"hello-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/materialsscience.univie.ac.at\/?p=1","title":{"rendered":"Archaeometallurgy \u2013 Materials Science Laboratory at the University of Vienna"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

led by Ing. Dr. Mathias Mehofer<\/a>, email: mathias.mehofer@univie.ac.at<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Materials Science laboratory of VIAS<\/strong> (University Vienna) was established in 1998 to conduct in-depth archaeometallurgical studies on prehistoric and historic metallurgy. In an interdisciplinary approach, various methods such as metallography, surface analyses, SEM-EDS, 3D X-ray tomography, DTA-TG(DTG), geochemistry and isotope research<\/strong> are combined to access cultural-historical questions. Initially set up as a metallographic laboratory, it was continuously expanded over the years. For example, a large-chamber scanning electron microscope<\/strong> and a handheld XRF device<\/strong> were acquired to broaden the analytical scope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The laboratory is well equipped for the analysis of metals and other remains from the metal production processes. Additionally, the laboratory holds an extensive reference collection of materials<\/strong> connected to ancient metallurgy (900 samples<\/strong>). This includes representative samples of metal artifacts, metallurgical by-products such as slags and ores, as well as technical ceramics, including crucibles, tuy\u00e8res, and furnace linings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instrumentation and Equipment<\/strong>
-SEM-EDS<\/strong>: Zeiss EVO 60 XVP, environmental SEM with low pressure mode (specimen chamber diameter 400 mm, height 240 mm); analytical unit: detector: Ultim MAX 170, AZtec, Oxford instruments, Sputter unit (carbon)
\u2013 pXRF:<\/strong>\u00a0Handheld X-Ray Fluorescence Analyzer, Bruker Tracer 5g<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Optical microscope:<\/strong> Olympus BX 51, reflected light microscope, Olympus software
\u2013 Sample preparation:<\/strong> Struers Tegramin 30: automatic grinding – polishing machine
Imptech 10 DVT Grinder Polisher: automatic grinding – polishing machine
\u2013 Hardness testing: <\/strong>Vickers micro hardness testing device
\u2013<\/strong> Mounting equipment<\/strong> for resin block samples
\u2013<\/strong> Etchants<\/strong> for copper-based, iron and silver samples (Ferric Chloride (FeCl\u2083), Ammonium Persulfate ((NH\u2084)\u2082S\u2082O\u2088), Nital, Oberhoffer\u00b4s reagent, dilute nitric acid etc.)
\u2013<\/strong> Experimental Archaeometallurgy<\/strong> equipment (pyrometer, sensors)
\u2013<\/strong> Dremel tools for sample extraction
\u2013<\/strong> Reference books for metallography, material science and archaeometallurgy
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certified reference materials<\/strong> (CRM, selection)
Numerous CRMs are available, this comprises certified standards comparable to prehistoric and medieval alloys (e.g tin-bronze, quaternary Cu-Sn-Pb-Zn alloys, brass) as well as slags: CCU-1e, BAM-M376a, BAM-M397, BAM-374 (ERM-EB374), BAM-375 (ERM-EB375), BAM-377 (ERM-EB377), BCR-691, MBH-31X 7835.5 A-C (batch A), MBH-31X CZ114 A-C, MBH-31X 7835.8 A3, MBH-31X TB 4 A4, MBH-32X Sn7 A, MBH-32X LB 17 A1, MBH-36X CuAs 3, MBH-36X CuAs 4, MBH-36X SP2 A-C (batch A), MBH-37X 218 B-C (CHARM-set)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Projects<\/strong> (selection)<\/p>\n\n\n\n