First Homemade APXS-XRF

[George Dowell]

Just finished a week of testing the first (?) home made APXS/XRF
element analyzer. Pictures to follow.

So far have analyzed Ti throuh Au.

Just did a 0.07 g sample of hematite in 6 seconds.

Thought you might be interested.

The probe is a sodium iodide specially made to my design, with a 4mm thick cleaved crystal behind a beryllium window. It works well from 3 keV up to the limit of this investigation, which is 100 keV.

On the APXS head, NO MORE ACTIVITY is needed.

George Dowell

[George Dowell]

Results.


Repeat only the sources shown used to activate XRF.

Pure elements, 99.99%
Ag, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Sn, Ti,

Gd, Nb, V were machine shop turnings

In was solder

La was chemical compound

Rainbow Hematite was 0.077 gram chips

Se was from HV rectifier from CDV-700

TE was "chunks" from supplier, marked 99.99%

Zn was US penny with copper coating removed.



George Dowell

[George Dowell]

Photo #1
1941 US Dime:
90% Silver
10% Copper

Photo #2
1966 US Dime:
91.67% Copper
8.33% Ni



Photo#3
Comparing the 1941 and 1966 Dimes:
1941 Dime (YELLOW):
90% Silver
10% Copper

1966 Dime (GREEN)
91.67% Copper
8.33% Nickel

Note, in my Periodic Table of Element's K and L X-Rays, Np is incorrect.

George Dowell

[Doug Coulter]

Nice work Geo! What's the energy and intensity of the X ray input you're using here?

[George Dowell]

Less than 10 MICROCURIES,no more is needed or wanted. almost any sealed source will work. One of my favorites is Kr-85, but I expect even Po-210 will work. George Dowell