WU Anjian ¹, LI Qijiang ^{1, 2}, LI Jinwei ^{1, 2}, LIN Ziwei ¹
(1. Research Centre for Ancient Ceramics, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen 333403, Jiangxi, China; 2. Jiangxi Ceramic Heritage Conservation and Imperial Kiln Research Collaborative Innovation Center, Jingdezhen 333403, Jiangxi, China)

Abstract: Thermoluminescence technology can be used to estimate the age of porcelain by measuring the amount of radiation that has accumulated since the porcelain was fired. However, artificial irradiation may affect the thermoluminescence dating, because the “age” of the porcelain could be increased due to the addition more radiation. The effects of different sources of artificial irradiation were examined, such as security scanners in high-speed rail stations, laboratory irradiation and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Firstly, the security scanners in high-speed railway stations and other places do not have a significant impact on the thermoluminescence age of the porcelain. Secondly, the normal XRF testing time does not affect the porcelain dating either. Thirdly, the laboratory irradiation can increase the thermoluminescence age of the porcelain in a linear way, depending on the radiation dose. The porcelain will undergo radiation decay if it is exposed to artificial irradiation in the laboratory for too long time.
Key words: thermoluminescence; artificial irradiation; pre-dose technique; porcelain