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Platinum crucibles for sample fusion processes are regularly subjected to significant thermodynamic strain and corrosive molten media that can cause gradual mechanical wearing and premature component failure, despite the materials’ inherent low reactivity. This can be problematic for chemical analysts preparing fused discs or beads for x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis as degradations in the chemical topography of a platinum crucible’s uppermost surface layers can drastically reduce the accuracy of results. It can also cause labware to develop cracks, which leak molten fluids and cause significant damage to fusion machines.

These conditions rarely arise because of poor development and production or defective platinum labware. Most commonly, platinum crucibles fail due to poor...

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...