{"id":202,"date":"2020-01-28T20:22:26","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T20:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/ask-a-scientist\/?p=202"},"modified":"2020-03-25T16:54:36","modified_gmt":"2020-03-25T16:54:36","slug":"what-is-xrf-x-ray-fluorescence-and-how-does-it-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/ask-a-scientist\/what-is-xrf-x-ray-fluorescence-and-how-does-it-work\/","title":{"rendered":"What is XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) and How Does it Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"What

XRF (X-ray fluorescence) is a non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of materials.<\/p><\/div>\n

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XRF (X-ray fluorescence<\/a>)\u00a0is a non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of materials. XRF analyzers<\/a> determine the chemistry of a sample by measuring the fluorescent (or secondary) X-ray emitted from a sample when it is excited by a primary X-ray source. Each of the elements present in a sample produces a set of characteristic fluorescent X-rays (“a fingerprint”) that is unique for that specific element, which is why XRF spectroscopy is an excellent technology for qualitative and quantitative analysis of material composition.<\/p>\n

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The X-ray fluorescence process<\/span><\/h2>\n
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  1. A solid or a liquid sample is irradiated with high energy X-rays from a controlled X-ray tube.<\/li>\n
  2. When an atom in the sample is struck with an X-ray of sufficient energy (greater than the atom\u2019s K or L shell binding energy), an electron from one of the atom\u2019s inner orbital shells is dislodged.<\/li>\n
  3. The atom regains stability, filling the vacancy left in the inner orbital shell with an electron from one of the atom\u2019s higher energy orbital shells.<\/li>\n
  4. The electron drops to the lower energy state by releasing a fluorescent X-ray. The energy of this X-ray is equal to the specific difference in energy between two quantum states of the electron. The measurement of this energy is the basis of XRF analysis
    \n\"xrf<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Interpretation of XRF spectra<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Most atoms have several electron orbitals (K shell, L shell, M shell, for example). When X-ray energy causes electrons to transfer in and out of these shell levels, XRF peaks with varying intensities are created and will be present in the spectrum, a graphical representation of X-ray intensity peaks as a function of energy peaks. The peak energy identifies the element, and the peak height\/intensity is generally indicative of its concentration.<\/p>\n

    How is XRF used in industries?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Handheld XRF Analyzers<\/a>\u00a0identify alloys, detect tramp elements, deliver geochemical data, analyze precious metals, and determine coating weight and plating thickness, to ensure material chemistry specifications are met.
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