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| X-MET HHXRF Analyzers: A Stainless History |
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This session was webcast at Pittcon 2012 in Orlando, Florida on Monday, March 12, 2012.
TITLE: X-MET HHXRF Analyzers: A Stainless History
SPEAKER: Andrew T Ellis - Oxford Instruments
ABSTRACT OVERVIEW: The X-MET handheld XRF system has a long history that has throughout been closely related to stainless steel. The Finnish core team that developed the X-MET series of XRF analyzers was originally part of the in-house analyzer group within the Finnish metals and mining company, Outukumpu. Outukumpu is renowned for the production of high quality and high value stainless steels with a strong need for accurate and precise analytical equipment. The technique of XRF is particularly well suited to stainless steel, as it is for many other complex alloys.
The Metorex company was formed out of the Outukumpu team leading to commercialization of analyzers f needs wider than those solely of Outukumpu. The skills of the team included the development and fabrication of X-ray detectors. Early systems were mobile / luggable and capable of accurate alloy analysis. The basic elements of the analyzer were extended although the systems remained luggable, albeit with a HH probe head, the first of which was the X-MET1000, a truly handheld analyzer with full metal grade ID capability. The next major step, X-MET3000, was the incorporation of a compact X-ray tube, which provided faster measurements and hassle-free transportation.
Since the acquisition of Metorex by Oxford Instruments, the all-new X-MET5000, equipped with an improved Ai PIN and a processor enabling extended FP calculations for excellent alloy analysis accuracy. The combination of an SDD and thin window X-ray tube extended the X-MET's hallmark analytical accuracy range into the direct measurement of Al in aluminum alloys.
This paper will focus on X-ray tube and detector developments along with the use of FP algorithms to obtain accurate analysis despite limited computer power.
Throughout the whole X-MET family development the benchmark for accuracy has been the ever-improving accuracy and precision for stainless steels, effectively connecting back to the origins of the X-MET species.
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| Date Uploaded: May 04, 2012 | Views: 84 |
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