High spatial resolution X-ray microdiffraction applied to biomaterial studies and archeometry

The high spatial resolution X-ray microdiffraction by using X-ray optics can provide unique information on regions with very high gradients in physical quantities, as in the case of interfaces. Among the several available X-ray optics for synchrotron radiation producing high intensity micron and sub-micron beams, the X-ray waveguide (WG) can provide the smallest X-ray beam in one direction. Moreover, its applicability has been widened by an improved set-up installed at ID13 beamline at ESRF, where a new undulator is combined with an horizontally focusing mirror. In this work, we show different applications of waveguide-based microdiffraction, the first two regard biological problems and in particular the structural analysis of newly formed bone in ceramic scaffolds. The second application regards archeometry and in particular the sulphatation process and the thin gypsum crust formation on the surface of carbonate rocks (travertine, marbles), due to the exposure of the monuments at aggressive atmospheres. In the three cases, the local structural information derived thanks to the high spatial resolution demonstrates the power of the microdiffraction technique based on WG, and the possibility to apply this new methododogy in different scientific fields.