Hand-held XRF metal alloy analyzer designed to regain lost traceability

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. offers the Niton® XL3t series X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer with geometrically optimized large area drift detector (GOLDD) technology. The unit can instantly regain lost traceability on materials, says the company.

GOLDD technology is a result of the manufacturer's combining the unit's 50-kV, 2-W X-ray tube, optimized geometry, and patented signal processing hardware and software with its proprietary large area drift detector. The technology delivers fast analysis, low detection limits, and analytical precision, the company reports. It also allows analysis of light elements such as magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, and sulfur without helium or vacuum purging.

The analyzer incorporates 80-MHz, real-time digital signal processing and dual embedded processors for computation, data storage, live video processing, and communication. The standard Niton Data Transfer (NDT©) software, a suite of data management utilities, allows users to customize the instrument, set user permissions, generate custom reports, print certificates of analysis personalized with a company's logo, and remotely monitor and operate the instrument hands-free from a PC or PDA.

Users can isolate small areas of interest on a sample using the company's CamShot™ integrated color CCD camera and the optional WeldSpot™ integrated 3-mm small-spot focus feature and then store the image of the tested area along with the analysis data. This feature is suitable for isolation and analysis of weldments separate from the joined components, to verify proper dilution rate.