- N e w equ pm

The Louvre gallery in Paris which is using Link ISIS X-ray microanalysis to investigate exhibits

be mounted in blocks, or cold set in resins, which allows a cross-sectional view of the painting to be analysed to reveal its layer-upon-layer structure. Because microanalysis is a nondestructive technique, samples can be stored for future cross-checking or for more detailed studies.

For example the Link ISIS system can show how the pre- Raphaelites achieved their bright and vivid colour by using a wet-on-wet technique, where paint was applied over a white base coat while it was still wet.

It also shows how the French impressionists such as Manet and Monet used new types of paint with brighter and more vibrant colours. These included cobalt blue which was manufactured from aluminium or cobalt stannate, arsenical green which contained acetoarsenite, chrome based pigments, such as viridian, hydrated chromium III oxide (which is green), the orange lead chromates and the intense purples of cobalt violet (phosphate or arsenite of cobalt).

One of the advantages of the

system that have been found by the Louvre is that it is easy to use. Based on Windows software, it has a comprehensive on-line help facility.

Oxford Instruments (UK) Ltd, Microanalysis Group, Halifax Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 3SE, UK

Customization sof tware

Agema Infrared Systems has introduced a software option for its high definition Thermovision 900 thermal imaging system. It allows research and development engineers in materials testing to customize image presentation and analysis for a wide range of different applications.

Called Localdev, the software can be used to manipulate the images, and allows users to take advantage of the benefits offered by the system's dedicated controller, such as much faster operation than conventional PCs, without compromising their ability to customize the system for their

own requirements.

The complete source code for three standard image 'filters" is provided to give those users less familiar with the 0S9 operating system some idea of the requirements of programming in C. A mirror filter, for example, enables images to be mirrored in either the X or Y-axes, or both, whilst a view filter wil l generate several small copies of an image.

For users requiring a more basic level of customization, the company offers three simpler options for developing customer-specific routines. For maximum ease of use, macros and toolboxes can be defined to speed up the most commonly used features. Alternatively, the customer has the option of buying in certain functions directly from an OS9 vendor, or creating his own software routines using 0S9 development software. For more complicated procedures, Agema will undertake to write software routines directly for the customer.

Agema Infrared Systems, Arden House, West Street, Leighton Buzzard, Beds LU7 7DD, UK

Materials characterizat ion range

The MagLab series of systems for materials characterization has been introduced by Oxford I nstru ments.

The concept is that of a fully integrated, computer-controlled system for the characterization of a wide range of materials using magnetic techniques. Areas of research include molecular magnetic materials, high and low temperature superconductors, recording media, and hard and soft magnetic materials.

All systems are supplied with the flexible ObjectBench software

328 NDT&E International Volume 26 Number 6 1993