XRF Fusion Flux

XRF Fusion Flux by XRF Scientific

The founder of X-Ray Flux Pty Ltd has been instrumental in the commercial development and promotion of Borate Fluxes used for the Fusion analysis for over 30 years.  Working closely with research institutions and Industrial Organizations, David Brown, from X-Ray Flux Pty Ltd has been producing and supplying extra pure Lithium Borate Fluxes to the world market at extremely competitive prices for many years.

Our Borate Fluxes have and continue to be used for the analysis of a wide range of materials ranging from alkaline specimens including (CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O) to more acidic specimens including (Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5).

There are many benefits for using eutectic flux mixtures in preference to 100% Tetraborate Flux and these become obvious when analyzing specimens that contain highly volatile elements.

Lithium Tetraborate (Li2B4O7) has a melting point of 920 º Celsius.

Lithium Metaborate (LiBO2) has a melting point of 845 º Celsius.

If 100% Tetraborate Flux is used for fusion, the specimen needs to be heated to around 1100ºC - 1150ºC.  Heating the specimen to this higher temperature will affect the accuracy of the analysis by driving off any volatile elements contained in the specimen.  The result of 100% Tetraborate usage (with a specimen that contains volatile elements) will be greater variation across specimens analyzed as the elements with greater volatility may not behave uniformly from one analysis to the next.

By using a eutectic mixture of Lithium Tetraborate and Lithium Metaborate the melting temperature of the specimen is lowered enabling greater consistency of analysis between specimen analysis and greater accuracy of analysis of volatile elements.

Non Wetting Agents

To avoid adhesion of the glass disk to the crucible (which can lead to disk cracking), it is occasionally advantageous to add non wetting agents to the flux mixture.  The addition of a non wetting agent can also reduce the amount of specimen that remains on the walls of the crucible reducing possible cross contamination and the need to frequently clean the crucible.

Technicians can either apply the non wetting agent at the time of fusion or X-Ray Flux Pty Ltd can add it to the pre-fused flux.

Non wetting agents added include KBr and LiBr.

Examples of pre-fused Borate Fluxes X-Ray Flux Pty Ltd can manufacture and supply include:

Free samples will be gladly sent on request.  

Please contact us or Contact
877-384-1317 Toll Free
360-384-1316 Phone
360-384-1613 FAX

Tuesday, November 28, 2006       Copyright 2005 Itsy Bitsy Webs and Spectrum Plus.