36?
LMS? Issue 6 | 2013
X-Ray Equipment
A Crucial Part of Non-destructive Materials Testing
T
he pu r p o s e
of materials
testing is to continuously improve the
quality of products
and the production processes. It
has established a
firm place for itself
in virtually all the
industrial sectors,
including research
and development,
producing and
working materials. It also has a
place in all production processes.
There are many
materials testing methods, one of which
is x-ray testing with vacuum technology. This process is impossible without
a vacuum. The x-ray tube must first be
pumped to the required high vacuum
(x<10-6 mbar). The vacuum equipment to
achieve this test
would consist
of a turbomolecular
Air & Vacuum Technologies
Contact: Mark Burn
Tel:
0861 (VACTEC) 0861-822-832
Email: burnm@vactech.co.za
The Spectroscout
T
he determination of elemental
compositions onsite from far-flung
mining and geological field operations
to remote environmental locations
presents many substantial challenges.
Weighing only 12kg and carried with
a shoulder strap, the new Spectroscout
portable ED-XRF analyser meets such
challenges in the field with as much
analytical power as top-grade laboratory
benchtop analysers.
This portable analyser is ideal for
onsite environmental and geological
analysis. In the instance of shale gas
boundary layer detection, it allows
for fast, data-based direction changes
that maximise drilling productivity.
Designed for tough use, it is encased in
a rugged housing and its x-ray source
is protected. Its features include a
large sample compartment, x-ray tube,
onboard processor and high-yield
battery pack. An optional, integrated
video system allows precise spot testing,
plus image storage.
This device provides highly precise
measurements from trace to minor and
major concentrations across a range of
relevant elements from heavy elements,
such as uranium, to light elements, such
as sodium, with rapid (typically 10-15
minutes) turnaround. The analyser also
brings laboratory-class advantages,
such as their advanced TurboQuant
unknown-sample analysis and optional
customer-specific calibrations. The new
Spectroscout is highly cost effective and,
with the improvements in productivity it
delivers, it yields an outstanding return
on investment. ?
Spectro Analytical Instruments
Contact: Marié Julsing
Tel:
011- 979- 4241
Email: mjulsing@spectro.org.za
pump, small diaphragm backing pump,
vacuum gauge and a controller. This can
be bought as individual components or
as a ‘plug and play’ ultra high vacuum
system.
Pfeiffer Vacuum collaborates with
leading specialists and manufacturers
of optical inspection systems and x-ray
inspection systems. What is used in
actual practice is a combination of both
optical testing and X-ray inspection. ?
On-line, Real-time
Elemental Analysis
F
eaturing the
advanced third-
generation, energydispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF)
t e c h n o l o g y, t h e
R ig a k u N E X OL
represents the next
evolution of processelementa l ana lysis
for liquid-stream and
fixed-position web or
coil applications.
Designed to span
from heavy industrial
through to food-grade process gauging
solutions, it is configurable for use in both
classified and non-classified areas.
To deliver superior analytical performance and reliability, the EDXRF
measuring head assembly was derived
from the established Rigaku NEX QC+
high-resolution benchtop instrument.
With this proven technology, the NEX
OL delivers rapid, non-destructive,
multi-element analyses, from ppm levels
to high weight percent concentrations,
for elements from aluminum through
to uranium.
It is equipped with a 50kV x-ray tube
and SDD detector. It also has an optimised suite of tube filters, which allows
it to solve a broad range of process control
applications.
For the elemental analysis of liquid
streams, an analysing head is mated
to a unique toolless flow cell assembly
incorporating the x-ray window. This
window contains the liquid stream but is
transparent to x-rays because it is typically
a plastic film.
In addition to analysing liquid streams,
the NEX OL is designed to service web
and coil applications with the ability to
perform multi-element composition or
coating thickness. Typically, a head is
mounted in a fixed position over a roller
so that