Author: Dr. Tony Bell, Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, S1 1WB, UK.
Tel: +441142253401 Fax: +441142254449 Anthony.Bell@shu.ac.uk www.shu.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/staff-profiles/tony-bell
Abstract:
After a 30 year career in X-Ray Diffraction, I moved in 2015 to Sheffield Hallam University to run a combined X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) laboratory. Since then I have discovered just how useful XRF can be for an XRD person. This talk will illustrate how XRF can be complementary for XRD analyses.
Author: Dr Graeme Hansford – Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester.
Abstract:
Handheld XRD is enabled by the application of energy-dispersive XRD (EDXRD) in a back-reflection geometry which leads to insensitivity to the sample morphology. Samples can be analysed with no preparation of the material at all, including non-planar surfaces. Although the resolution afforded by EDXRD is low relative to conventional benchtop or floor-mounted diffractometers, the benefits of ¬in situ analysis on a short timescale opens up a range of potential applications. Furthermore, since metals and alloys tend to have simple, high-symmetry crystal structures, their diffraction peaks are well-spaced and can generally be resolved using EDXRD. Using a prototype instrument developed at the University of Leicester, the potential capabilities of handheld XRD in metals analysis has been investigated by testing with a wide range of metals and alloys. To date, testing has covered a total of 76 samples, including alloys based on aluminium, copper, nickel and titanium as well as standard-grade and research steels. Results will be presented illustrating the ability of the prototype instrument to determine phase composition and unit cell dimensions, and to extract texture information.