Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T23:48:13.140Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Bridging the Micro-to-Macro Gap: A New Application for Micro X-Ray Fluorescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2011

Jeffrey M. Davis ,
Dale E. Newbury ,
Albert Fahey ,
Nicholas W.M. Ritchie ,
Edward Vicenzi  and
Dale Bentz
Jeffrey M. Davis*
Affiliation:
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Microanalysis Research Group, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8371, USA
Dale E. Newbury
Affiliation:
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Microanalysis Research Group, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8371, USA
Albert Fahey
Affiliation:
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Microanalysis Research Group, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8371, USA
Nicholas W.M. Ritchie
Affiliation:
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Microanalysis Research Group, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8371, USA
Edward Vicenzi
Affiliation:
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Microanalysis Research Group, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8371, USA
Dale Bentz
Affiliation:
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials and Construction Research Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8371, USA
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: jeff.davis@nist.gov
Get access

Abstract

X-ray elemental mapping and X-ray spectrum imaging are powerful microanalytical tools. However, their scope is often limited spatially by the raster area of a scanning electron microscope or microprobe. Limited sampling size becomes a significant issue when large area (>10 cm2), heterogeneous materials such as concrete samples or others must be examined. In such specimens, macro-scale structures, inclusions, and concentration gradients are often of interest, yet microbeam methods are insufficient or at least inefficient for analyzing them. Such requirements largely exclude the samples of interest presented in this article from electron probe microanalysis. Micro X-ray fluorescence–X-ray spectrum imaging (μXRF-XSI) provides a solution to the problem of macro-scale X-ray imaging through an X-ray excitation source, which can be used to analyze a variety of large specimens without many of the limitations found in electron-excitation sources. Using a mid-sized beam coupled with an X-ray excitation source has a number of advantages, such as the ability to work at atmospheric pressure and lower limits of detection owing to the absence of electron-induced bremsstrahlung. μXRF-XSI also acts as a complement, where applicable, to electron microbeam X-ray output, highlighting areas of interest for follow-up microanalysis at a finer length scale.

Keywords

imagingmappinganalysisconcretemeteoriteselemental
Type
Materials Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , June 2011 , pp. 410 - 417
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

ACI-222 (1996). Corrosion of Metals in Concrete (ACI 222R-96). Farmington Hills, MI: American Concrete Institute.Google Scholar
Adams, F., Janssens, K. & Snigirev, A. (1998). Microscopic X-ray fluorescence analysis and related methods with laboratory and synchrotron radiation sources. J Anal Atom Spectrom 13, 319–331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boehme, D. (1987). X-ray microfluorescence of geologic materials. Adv X-Ray Anal 30, 39–44.Google Scholar
Bright, D. (2000). Lispix: Image processing and data visualization tool for the PC and Macintosh. Scanning 22, 111–112.Google Scholar
Carpenter, D. (1989). Improved laboratory X-ray source for microfluorescence analysis. X-ray Spectrom 18, 253–258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carpenter, D. & Taylor, M. (1991). Fast, high resolution X-ray microfluorescence imaging. Adv X-Ray Anal 34, 217–223.Google Scholar
Collepardi, M., Marcialis, A. & Turrizuani, R. (1970). Kinetics of penetration of chloride ions into the concrete. Il Cemento 4, 157–164.Google Scholar
Cosslett, V. & Duncumb, P. (1956). Micro-analysis by a flying-spot X-ray method. Nature 177, 1172–1174.Google Scholar
Gurker, N. (1986). Imaging techniques for X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. Adv X-Ray Anal 30, 53–65.Google Scholar
Havrilla, G. (1997). Applications of micro X-ray fluorescence to materials science. X-Ray Spectrom 26, 364–373.3.0.CO;2-W>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Janssens, K., Vekemans, B., Vincze, L., Adams, F. & Rindby, A. (1996). A micro XRF spectrometer based on a rotating anode generator and capillary optics. Spectrochem Acta B 51(13), 1661–1678.Google Scholar
Kotula, P.K., Keenan, M.R. & Michael, J.R. (2003). Automated analysis of SEM X-ray spectral images: A powerful new microanalysis tool. Microsc Microanal 9(1), 1–17.Google Scholar
Martin, P. & Mason, B. (1974). Major and trace elements in the allende meteorite. Nature 249, 333–334.Google Scholar
Monfore, G. & Verbeck, G. (1960). Corrosion of prestressed wire in concrete. ACI Mater 57, 491–516.Google Scholar
Nichols, M., Boehme, D., Ryon, R., Wherry, D., Cross, B. & Aden, G. (1987). Parameters affecting X-ray microfluorescence analysis. Adv X-Ray Anal 30, 45–51.Google Scholar
Rindby, A., Engstrom, P., Larsson, S. & Stocklassa, B. (1989). Microbeam technique for energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Adv X-Ray Spectrom 18, 109–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ritchie, N. (2008). DTSA II. Retrieved from Public Domain Software Available from the NIST: http://www.cstl.nist.gov/div837/837.02/epq/dtsa2/index.html. Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology.Google Scholar