Sample fusion involves dosing a powdered or granulated mineral sample with a careful ratio of lithium borate and any requisite additives, before melting the mixture in a high-temperature fusion heater. The heating chamber of a fusion fluxer regularly reaches temperatures of up to 1250°C (2282°F), necessitating precision labware with extreme thermodynamic stability and zero cross-reactivity with samples.

Platinum crucibles are routinely used for high-temperature sample fusion, owing to the material’s extremely high melting point and low chemical reactivity even at elevated temperatures. This enables analysts to prepare high-purity samples of near-perfect homogenous quality for accurate x-ray fluorescence (XRF) or inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) analysis.

In a previous ...

XRF Scientific has been developing precision sample preparation equipment for x-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) analysis since 1972. Our products and methodologies have supported experts in an array of industrial sectors, providing accurate composition and purity measurements of sample materials in the mining, construction, petrochemical sectors and more. This success has enabled us to broaden our market expertise and provide an expansive platinum product range for applications beyond sample analysis.

Our semi-finished platinum products have found extensive application in the growing field of thin film deposition. Evaporation and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are among the most common thin film coating techniques. They are used to fabricate unique mi...

To accurately assess the x-ray fluorescent (XRF) properties of a dry, organic sample through XRF spectrometry, the sample must first be prepared with a fusion flux of either lithium metaborate (LiBO₂), lithium tetraborate (Li₂B₄O₇), or a mixture of the two with suitable oxidizing additives. The homogeneity of these mixtures can have a significant impact on results accuracy, which is why eutectic flux mixtures are prepared at varying ratios with distinct physiochemical structures. Following eutectic mixture selection, the dry analyte must be reduced to a suitable consistency for fusion using crushing equipment.

Laboratory crushing equipment typically pulverizes dry geological samples using mechanically agitating jaws or gyrating plates. ...

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