Typical Applications of XRF

Quantitative analysis of bulk and trace elements in:

• All metals and alloys (e.g. to check for conformity against specification)
• Glass (including major and minor components, colour elements etc)
• Raw materials (e.g. mineral powders, oxides etc)
• Environmental dust samples
• Composition of plating baths, solutions, effluent samples
• Sputtered or plated layer thickness and/or composition
• Routine process monitoring
• Qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of unknown materials and powders
• XRF is a vital tool for RoHS Testing of products to ensure compliance

Document Title	View
Process control monitoring of TV screen glass composition using XRF analysis.
Environmental Monitoring of Industrial Waste waters and Effluent Discharges
Environmental Monitoring of Contaminated Atmospheres

Principle

The sample is irradiated with X-rays within the instrument. If an X-ray photon is absorbed by the sample of sufficient energy then an electron is emitted via the photoelectric effect resulting in an electron hole in the atom. An inner shell electron will then fall back to fill this hole resulting in the release of electromagnetic energy with a frequency characteristic of the element present.

The technique is quantitative and can be used on bulk powders, solids and liquids. Additionally it can be used on thin-film samples – e.g. filter papers used in environmental monitoring.

Main Features and Benefits of the Laboratory’s XRF Instrument

• Sensitivity and range of element detection:-
  • Detects all elements from carbon upwards
  • Lower level of detection for most elements ~ 10 – 50ppm
  • Lower level of detection for carbon ~ 0.1%
  • Can analyse element concentrations from 10ppm – 100% in the same sample
  • Qualitative analysis of unknown samples
  • Range of sample types:-
    • Solids - (Metal, Glass, Ceramic, Mineral, Fillers in plastic etc)
    • Powders -(Metal, Glass, Ceramic, Mineral, Oxide, Dust etc)
    • Liquids
• Rapid throughput of samples.

Please contact us to discuss how your requirements can be met using this or any of our analytical techniques. We can issue no-obligation quotations once we have discussed your needs and can offer two levels of service “urgent” and “normal”. We also offer preferential rates for longer term analysis contracts. Click here to find out more.

Our site expert on XRF is Keith Raper.