A fast in situ non-invasive approach to classify mortars from a construction of high historical value

The use of hand-held X-ray fluorescence (HH-XRF) spectrometers has increased in the last years due to its easily portable capacity and its rapid and non-destructive analysis. In this work, HH-XRF is proposed as a fast in situ non-invasive technique to classify mortars from a construction of high historical value. The current HH-XRF devices are able to provide large amounts of information almost instantaneously based on Fundamental Parameters quantification methodology that especially for the analyses of samples with very complex matrixes such as building materials is not very reliable. The accuracy of the semi-quantitative information provided by the HH-XRF spectrometer was compared with a previously optimized WD-XRF quantification method and a complete spectral data treatment followed by Principal Component Analysis is also proposed to classify easily and quickly the mortars used in this construction, without a previous sampling procedure, according to the similarities/differences in their elemental composition.