Reed Metals

[JimLucas]

Problem is both cases is that it would require sacrificing a reed since good quantitative analysis is more readily done in solution.  If anyone knows a better way please say.

I would think that neutron-activation analysis would be a good non-destructive method. (As I recall, that's how they analyzed one of Napoleon's hairs and demonstrated that he had actually been poisoned with arsenic.) But I don't know if there are any commercial services that do it, nor what it might cost.

[Charles_Mackay]

Nice thought on NAA Jim,

 

I guess energy dispersive XRF, using an X-ray microprobe with the reed sitting on a sample plug in a scanning electron microscope would do it as well, but I guess this is now drifting a bit away from the musical aspects. This too would be non destructive, but wouldn't pick up carbon or oxygen, but there shouldn't be very much of either in brass or steel.

 

Charles