At Pittcon 2011, Thermo Fisher Scientific launched the ARL Perform'X X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer for advanced materials characterisation, designed for analytical laboratories.
The ARL Perform'X integrates bulk elemental analysis capabilities with mapping and small spot analysis to create a solution that is suitable for the analysis of any solid or liquid sample.
The system offers users a choice of analysed area size, from 35mm to 0.5mm.
As well as measuring the standard chemical composition of samples, the system facilitates elemental small spot analysis, enabling analysts to pinpoint focus on specimen sections as small as 0.5mm, improving the versatility of analyses.
The instrument's advanced X-ray mapping and sample visualisation capabilities also enable users to identify and characterise inhomogeneities, such as elemental inclusions, defects and gradients in samples previously unidentifiable.
The ARL Perform'X has the capacity to handle samples of many sizes and types, including solids, liquids, powders and thin films.
Designed for analytical laboratories in areas as diverse as geochemistry, chemical, petrochemical, materials science, contract laboratories and process control, the system's speed, reliability and flexibility make it suitable for solving composition problems in demanding industrial process and quality applications.
With dual sample loading, the ARL Perform'X is able to process more than 60 samples per hour in a typical multi-element analysis case, offering the rapid and precise analysis of up to 84 elements.
The system also provides high standards of safety with a sample recognition capability that simplifies the loading of solids and liquids.
In addition, the instrument offers the long-term stability and repeatability of results.
The ARL Perform'X comes as standard with the latest version of the Thermo Scientific Oxsas software.
Oxsas is claimed to improve productivity through its rapid reporting features.
Users also benefit from a synoptic panel that mimics the real-time operation and internal functioning of the instrument on a separate display screen, enabling users to visually monitor the status of their analyses.
