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Platinum care is a vital, yet often overlooked, process for x-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) sample preparation. Analysts routinely subject platinum labware to extreme temperatures for extended periods of time. These harsh thermal conditions are further complicated by the challenging reactions that occur between sample materials and borate agents, and between minerals within samples and the platinum labware itself. (more…)

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is one of the only elemental analysis tools capable of identifying and quantifying the elements present in a bulk material non-destructively. This is conducted by extracting a small sample volume from the uppermost surface layers of the material or taking a fragment of the bulk product and homogenizing it as a fine powder. A benchtop XRF spectrometer is then used to measure the component parts of the sample and develop relative data for the bulk material. This requires several distinct pieces of lab equipment to achieve optimal results.

Alternative tools such as optical emission spectrometry (OES) and laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) can perform elemental analysis of workpieces directly, without extensive sample preparation. However, these tech...

Gas-powered fusion furnaces are often misconceived as inefficient and unsafe compared to electric alternatives, which utilize high-temperature silicon carbide (SiC) heating elements to melt samples in platinum crucibles. However, there are numerous advantages to gas fusion, particularly when coupled with specialized platinum labware.

This blog post will outline the Phoenix platinum crucibles from XRF Scientific, alongside some of the benefits of gas fusion for x-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) sample preparation.

Phoenix Platinum Crucibles and Moulds

Phoenix platinum crucibles and molds from XRF Scientific are optimized for use with the Phoenix line of gas-powered fusion furnaces. Standard versions comprise high purity pl...