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X-ray fluorescence (XRF)

Periodic Table

Measure almost any element in almost any matrix

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) provides one of the simplest, most accurate and most economic analytical methods for the determination of elemental composition of many types of materials. Indispensable to both R&D and quality assurance (QA) functions, our advanced and unique WDXRF products are routinely used to analyze products from cement to plastics and from metals to food to semiconductor wafers. Rigaku offerings range from high power, high-performance wavelength dispersive WDXRF systems, for the most demanding applications, to a complete line of benchtop EDXRF and WDXRF systems.

Theory of X-ray fluorescence
X-ray fluorescence schematicIn X-ray fluorescence (XRF), an electron can be ejected from its atomic orbital by the absorption of a light wave (photon) of sufficient energy. The energy of the photon (hν) must be greater than the energy with which the electron is bound to the nucleus of the atom. When an inner orbital electron is ejected from an atom (middle image), an electron from a higher energy level orbital will be transferred to the lower energy level orbital. During this transition a photon maybe emitted from the atom (bottom image). This fluorescent light is called the characteristic X-ray of the element. The energy of the emitted photon will be equal to the difference in energies between the two orbitals occupied by the electron making the transition. Because the energy difference between two specific orbital shells, in a given element, is always the same (i.e. characteristic of a particular element), the photon emitted when an electron moves between these two levels, will always have the same energy. Therefore, by determining the energy (wavelength) of the X-ray light (photon) emitted by a particular element, it is possible to determine the identity of that element.

Rigaku recommends the following products:

Benchtop tube below sequential WDXRF spectrometer analyzes O through U in solids, liquids and powders

High-power, tube-below, sequential WDXRF spectrometer with new ZSX Guidance expert system software

High power, tube above, sequential WDXRF spectrometer with new ZSX Guidance expert system software

Affordable, high-end, tube-above Industrial WDXRF for the analysis of solid samples

WDXRF spectrometer designed to handle very large and/or heavy samples

High-throughput tube-above multi-channel simultaneous WDXRF spectrometer analyzes Be through U

WDXRF ultralow chlorine analyzer

WDXRF ultra low sulfur analyzer for method ASTM D2622

High-performance, Cartesian-geometry EDXRF elemental analyzers for measuringes Na to U in solids, liquids, powders and thin films

Variable collimator small spot 60 kV EDXRF system featuring QuantEZ software.

60 kV EDXRF system featuring QuantEZ software and optional standardless analysis

Low-cost EDXRF elemental analyzer measures Na to U in solids, liquids, powders and thin-films

Performance EDXRF elemental analyzer measures Na to U in solids, liquids, powders and thin-films

EDXRF spectrometer with powerful Windows® software and optional FP.

Scanning multi-element process coatings analyzers for web or coil applications

EDXRF multi-element process analyzer; analyze aluminum (Al) through uranium (U)

In-line, simultaneous WDXRF spectrometer for wafer metal film metrology; up to 300 mm wafers

Simultaneous WDXRF spectrometer for wafer metal film metrology; up to 200 mm wafers

Sequential WDXRF spectrometer for elemental analysis and thin-film metrology of large and/or heavy samples

XRF and optical metrology tool for blanket and patterned wafers; up to 300 mm wafers

This versatile X-ray metrology tool enables high-throughput measurements on blanket wafers ranging from ultra-thin single-layer films to multilayer stacks for process development and film quality control.

Application Notes

The following application notes are relevant to this technique

WDXRF

EDXRF

WDXRF, XRF

Total reflection XRF (TXRF)