Qualitative X-ray fluorescence analysis of alloyed materials

Principle

The composition of various alloys is analysed with the aid of polychromatic X-rays. The energy of the characteristic fluorescence lines of the alloy constituents is analysed with the aid of a semiconductor detector and a multichannel analyser. The alloy constituents are identified by comparing the line energies with the corresponding table values.

Tasks

1. Calibrate the semiconductor energy detector with the aid of the characteristic radiation of the tungsten X-ray tube.
2. Record the spectra of the fluorescence radiation that is generated by the samples.
3. Determine of the energy values of the corresponding fluorescence lines and compare the experimental energy values with table values in order to identify the alloy constituents.

Learning objectives

• Bremsstrahlung
• characteristic X-radiation
• energy levels
• fluorescent yield
• semiconductor energy detectors
• multichannel analysers