Handheld XRF Analyzer

The handheld XRF analyzer is able to detect the following elements in materials: Titanium, Vanadium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Gallium, Germanium, Zirconium, Niobium, Molybdenum, Ruthenium, Rhodium, Palladium, Silver, Tin, Antimony, Hafnium, Tantalum, Tungsten, Rhenium, Platinum, Gold, Latin Plumbum, Bismuth, Magnesium, Aluminium, Silicon, Phosphorus and Sulphur. Other materials the XRF analyzer can detect are: plastic, soil, ore, ceramic, paint, paper, etc.

The handheld XRF analyzer simply works by setting up the XRF analyzer and placing the material close to the window film and pressing the trigger. Wait for some seconds for proper reading of the material. The XRF analyzer has an inbuilt high resolution LCD that displays the result of analysis.

The benefits of using a portable XRF analyzer are:

• The XRF analyzeris lightweight and easy to move to different work sites. It can be used anywhere at any time. Running more assays in the field allows for finer grid resolution and the ability to send prequalified samples to an offsite laboratory. With improved statistics, the high density analysis produces a more comprehensive analysis of the target material than the exclusive use of traditional bag and lab methods.
• The 5 inch high resolution LCD screen has a 360 rotation option.
• The reading and analysis of the XRF analyzer takes 15 seconds in total, resulting in fast analysis, giving lab-quality results in seconds rather than days or weeks it takes for a traditional testing laboratory.
• TheXRF analyzer battery (2700mAh) lasts for three days and it is replaceable with a backup battery.
• The handheld XRF analyzerhas an inbuilt professional application software specifically for the alloy industry. The XRF analyzer is intelligent, high sensitivity, short testing time and easy to operate.
• The handheld XRF analyzerhas a multitude of applications in mining and exploration, food safety and agriculture, scrap sorting, positive material identification, research and teaching, etc.

XRF analysis provides a fast, accurate and most importantly a nondestructive method to test the purity and composition of metals, alloys, geochemical materials, etc. Generally, heavier elements are slightly more accurate than lighter ones. Accuracy in the range 0.1 to 100% is higher than the range of 1ppm to 1000ppm. Accuracy is generally better for metals than for minerals and plastics. Accuracy will also be better if a powder sample has low particle size or if a massive test sample is flat. The accuracy of the difference between XRF value and assay can be as good as 0.2 to 0.5% for gold in jewelry. Accuracy can also be improved by adjusting the response of the instrument for a given type of material using reference samples. There are additional reasons to use XRF analyzers and not chemicals like nitric acid when it comes to analyzing precious metals such as jewelry. The traditional acid test for gold involves placing a small drop of strong acid onto the metal’s surface. This type of testing could leave a mark on the jewelry which is dangerous to the skin. Acid testing is not accurate and does not give the exact karat in gold testing.

Handheld XRF guns are totally safe to use when operated as directed. An XRF tool produces x-rays that are ionizing radiation, therefore exposure should be minimized. Do not place your hands when analyzing material. Do not point the handheld XRF gun at anyone and pull the trigger due to the effect of radiation.

Sodium is the lightest element capable of being detected by the XRF analyzer.

The handheld XRF analyzer can detect gold, silver and other types of precious metals.

Aluminum alloys fall into the category of light metal alloys and can be detected with a XRF analyzer.

XRF is an acronym for x-ray fluorescence, a process whereby electrons are displaced from their atomic orbital positions, releasing a burst of energy that is characteristic of a specific element. This release of energy is then registered by the detector in the XRF instrument, which in turn categorizes the energies by element. The XRF gun works in this four simple processes; Emission- First, the analyzer emits x-rays Excitation- The x-ray hits the sample, causing it to fluoresce and send x-rays back to the analyzer. Measurement- The detector measures the energy spectrum. This tells you which elements are present and the amount of each element present. It is important to note that the Superbmelt XRF analyzer can measure every element between 12 to 92 atomic numbers on the periodic table. In general, our analyzers can measure magnesium to uranium on the periodic table of elements. The results of the assay is displayed on the in-built LCD. Typical results will display a table listing all elements that the analyzer detected, as well as the concentration of each element.

XRF is based on the principle that individual atoms, when excited by an external energy source, emit x-ray photons of a characteristic energy or wavelength measuring 100A to 0.1A. By counting the number of photons of each energy emitted from a sample, the elements present may be identified and quantified. Compared to normal electromagnetic waves, x-rays easily pass through substances and become stronger as the atomic number of a substance through which it passes decreases. X-ray fluorescence analysis is a method that uses characteristic x-rays generated when x-rays irradiate a substance.

XRF is an elemental analysis technique that can quantify many elements in a sample. The characteristic x-ray photons produced in the sample have specific energy and on the way to the detector get absorbed by other atoms in the sample. The information depth depends on the energy of the element of interest and the type of sample (the average atomic number). This depth ranges from one micrometer to a few centimeters.

XRF analyzers can detect light elements because they have energy levels that are low enough that they struggle to escape from the sample without being absorbed. For fluorescent x-rays that do escape the sample, some of them will not be able to penetrate the air between the sample and the instrument to reach the detector. There have been certain improvements in portable XRF technology that enables the detection of light elements like magnesium. Light elements previously cannot be measured because their signal is too weak to estimate their concentration. The silicon drift detectors allow for more energy in total to be received and measured by the portable XRF analyzer, improving detection limits and the number of lighter elements that can be measured.

A handheld XRF spectrometer is an x-ray instrument used for routine and relatively fast, nondestructive chemical analysis of rocks, minerals, sediments and fluids. XRF instruments can provide information about elements present in almost any solid sample and in many cases, provide quantitative elemental composition information of every material.

Coating thickness measurement instruments are available for metal manufacturing. XRF is a nondestructive analytical technique that measures the fluorescent x-ray emitted from a sample when it is excited by a primary x-ray source. The strength of the signal can be used to determine the thickness of the coating, a second reading can determine the thickness of the substrate. The intensity of the fluorescent x-ray corresponds to the number of x-rays detected per unit of time, which is known as count rate. This count rate is related to the thickness of the material being tested.

The most common gold purity levels are 10k, 14k, 18k and 24k. Each level of gold purity has its advantages and disadvantages, from strength and durability to the risk of skin irritation. Out of the four most common purity levels, 10k is the most durable with the lowest gold content. 14k is slightly purer while also highly durable, while 18k gold is the purest form of gold used for jewelry. 24k gold pure gold, it is soft and malleable. Gold and it’s alloys are 375, 585, 750, 916, 990 and 999.

The silver purity levels are: 99.9% (999 thousandths) , 92.5% (925 thousandths), 83.5% (835 thousandths) and 80% (800 thousandths). 925 silver is also known as sterling silver, it is the most common alloy used in the manufacture of silver jewelry and other fine silver items. Silver and its alloys are 800, 925, 990 and 999.

Platinum jewelry is either 90% (900 Pt) or 95% (950 Pt) pure platinum. Platinum is a naturally durable yet malleable material. Platinum needs to be mixed with only a small amount of other platinum group metals to create an alloy that can be molded. Platinum and its alloys are 850, 900, 950, 990 and 999.

Similar to platinum, palladium is used as an alloy of 95% or 950 purity. Palladium is considered a hypoallergenic metal. Palladium and its alloys are 500, 950, 990 and 999.

The limit standard for harmful elements in materials is <0.1%.

The x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy can nondestructively detect and analyze gold, silver, platinum and palladium as well as non precious alloying metals.

The x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is characterized by: fast analysis; highly accurate and precise analysis; nondestructive analysis of materials, solid, liquid and powder materials; ease of use, etc.

The sample specimen is excited by radiation of an x-ray. This causes electrons from the inner electron shell to get knocked off. Electrons from outer electron shells drop in to fill the resultant voids emitting a fluorescence radiation characteristic in its energy distribution for a particular element. The fluorescence radiation is measured by the detector.

The handheld XRF analyzer does not require any special maintenance. Ensure you handle it with care during and after use.

The precision and accuracy of Superbmelt handheld XRF analyzer is determined mainly by the material being analyzed. The deviation is between 10 to 30ppm.

Test results are reported within one second.

The test sample of the SPS XRA 5000 can be replaced in four seconds.

The SPS XRA 5000 can be used for testing and analysis of as many materials as possible.