Background

High precision analysis of elements in soda-lime glass can be performed using the benchtop WDXRF spectrometer Supermini200. Glass is very common material used in various situations with long historical roots. Soda-lime glass is considered to be the first human made glass, and is still being used in many forms such as light bulbs for lamps, touch panels, LCD monitors, solar panels, insulators, tableware, containers, windows and mirrors.

Although the basic component of glass is SiO₂, elements such as Na₂O and CaO are added to change the characteristics of the glass depending on the intended use. Addition of different elements in certain quantities can change the physical and chemical properties such as melting point, moisture resistance and thermal expansion. Some trace elements can color glass. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis quickly and easily offers precise elemental analysis results allowing control of glass composition in the production process. This application note describes the excellent performance of Supermini200 for the analysis of soda-lime glass.