{"id":7813,"date":"2016-02-25T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2016-02-25T13:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/?p=7813"},"modified":"2026-01-19T21:44:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T21:44:04","slug":"small-spot-analysis-mapping-and-standardless-analysis-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/metals\/small-spot-analysis-mapping-and-standardless-analysis-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Spot Analysis, Mapping, and Standardless Analysis Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/smallspot21.jpg\" style=\"float: right;border: 0;margin: 10px\" alt=\"small spot analysis\" title=\"small spot analysis\" width=\"290\" height=\"447\" \/>Process control, failure troubleshooting, and in-situ identification are all now possible using a standard <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thermoscientific.com\/en\/product\/arl-perform-x-sequential-x-ray-fluorescence-spectrometer.html\">laboratory wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometer<\/a> with small spot\/mapping capability. Traditionally, WDXRF was a technique suited for only homogeneous samples, but the latest developments in mapping and small spot functionality permit analysis of areas down to 0.5mm as well as mapping of a selected region of a sample to analyze segregations, defects or inclusions in heterogeneous samples. Coupling small spot capabilities with standardless analysis permits quantification of up to 79 elements on selected points of the sample.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\">Small spot analysis<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Small spot analysis is a selection of one or more unique and individual points on a sample surface, each one producing a singular analysis result. In various industries such as glass and metal production, XRF instruments with spotting capability are used to analyze a small isolated area of a sample to pinpoint the source of defects. Combined with appropriate sample movement, these instruments are able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Focus on specimen sections with selectable X-ray diameter of 0.5 or 1.5 mm<\/li>\n<li>Construct maps of element distributions with cartography down to 0.1 mm steps<\/li>\n<li>Study of sample homogeneity for process improvement and problem solving<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The first step is for the XRF instrument to image the sample surface. From this image it is possible to click on areas of interest to designate analysis areas; for mapping the operator would select one of a number of shapes and enlarge or contract it to a size which best contains the area of interest. The sample is excited by a primary X-ray beam. The secondary X-rays emitted are collimated through an aperture which allows only the 0.5 mm area of interest excitation to continue on through the beam path to the detector.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\">Mapping<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Mapping is the joining of adjacent individual points into a unified pattern to produce a 2 or 3 dimensional presentation along with intensity\/concentration results for the selected area. This is a very helpful way of better understanding a problem. The 2D images can be viewed as individual element distributions or overlaid to give a more comprehensive correlation of the elements as a group. The 3D images are single element display and can be rotated for a full 360 degree visualization or even a birds-eye view. While most maps are collected as intensity only images, empirical calibrations can also be used to fully quantify the result.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\">Standardless analysis<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Another useful development in XRF analytical programs is the availability of &ldquo;standardless&rdquo; packages. These packages allow for quantitative data to be obtained for completely unknown samples. As in many real life situations, obtaining any or enough standards to create a calibration is not always possible. This is certainly the case when analyzing defects or unknown contamination. When an approximate analysis of an inclusion or a defect in a sample is sufficient, a standardless program will provide good results without use of specific standard samples.<\/p>\n<p>Comprehensive standard-less software packages are based on 64 pure element standards. Such software allows for concentration determination of unknown samples in any matrix by using complex mathematical algorithms for up to 79 elements. These algorithms correct for matrix effects as well as inter-elemental effects to provide highly accurate and precise quantitative results.<\/p>\n<p>Read <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thermoscientific.com\/content\/dam\/tfs\/ATG\/CAD\/CAD%20Documents\/Application%20%26%20Technical%20Notes\/Elemental%20Analysis\/XRF\/XR-AN41650-ARL%20PERFORM%27X-Spot%20Fe-Lo-0311.pdf\">Small Spot Analysis: Performance in Ferrous Base<\/a> to learn about a study to assess the performance of an XRF instrument analyzing a spot of only 0.5 mm a calibration using ferrous base standard samples.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Process control, failure troubleshooting, and in-situ identification are all now possible using a standard laboratory wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometer with small spot\/mapping capability. Traditionally, WDXRF was a technique suited for only homogeneous samples, but the latest developments in mapping and small spot functionality permit analysis of areas down to 0.5mm as well as<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":7812,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[154],"tags":[],"division":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7813","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-industry-metals","8":"entry"},"_selected_authors":[1252],"_selected_reviewers":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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These parts are critical to operational safety and product integrity, yet their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Manufacturing Quality Assurance&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Manufacturing Quality Assurance","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/manufacturing-quality-assurance\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"small metal fasteners","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/iStock-1087432242.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/iStock-1087432242.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/iStock-1087432242.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/iStock-1087432242.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/iStock-1087432242.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/05\/iStock-1087432242.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13545,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/metals\/how-to-maximize-productivity-in-lightweight-metal-scrap-sorting-at-recycling-facilities\/","url_meta":{"origin":7813,"position":1},"title":"How to Maximize Productivity in Lightweight Metal Scrap Sorting at Recycling Facilities","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"May 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Addressing the Challenge of Lightweight Alloy Identification Lightweight metal scrap sorting\u2014especially for aluminum and magnesium alloys\u2014presents a unique operational challenge. While these materials are essential to modern manufacturing and recycling streams, their similar compositions make them difficult to distinguish quickly and accurately. 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While aluminum is one of the most widely used and recycled metals, its physical similarities to other materials, combined with the complexity of aluminum alloys, make accurate identification difficult. 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Download this handy periodic table and X-ray energy reference guide to help in analyzing your metals samples. \u00a0It's our treat. Then visit our Steel Manufacturing and Precious Metals Analysis\u00a0 pages for more goodies. Download Periodic Table.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General\/Industry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General\/Industry","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/general-industry-metals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Halloween pumpkin with goodies","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/MetalsHalloween-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/MetalsHalloween-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/MetalsHalloween-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/MetalsHalloween-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/metals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/10\/MetalsHalloween-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13857,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/metals\/eight-reasons-jewelers-should-not-use-acid-to-test-jewelry\/","url_meta":{"origin":7813,"position":5},"title":"Eight Reasons Jewelers Should NOT Use Acid to Test Jewelry","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"October 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Introduction Traditional acid testing can provide a useful initial indication of precious metal purity, but authoritative sources recognize its limitations when more precise analysis is needed. 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