A full renovation of the X-ray spectral laboratory has been completed at our plant. Existing premises were fully reconstructed, and new analytical equipment was purchased and installed. This was an important strategic step in the enterprise’s long-term development plan.
The X-ray spectral laboratory specializes in analyzing materials using X-ray radiation and is an integral part of precision alloy production. Its upgrade not only supports quality control of current products but also supports effective work of the research center, expanding opportunities for future research in developing new steels and alloys and their production technologies.
For X-ray spectral analysis we use an atomic emission spectrometer and an X-ray fluorescence analyzer. Specialized software is installed for each instrument in the laboratory, ensuring accuracy and reliability of analysis results. Using such equipment is an important part of precision alloy production technology and makes it possible to determine chemical composition of materials as effectively as possible.
The operating principle of the X-ray fluorescence analyzer is based on the dependence of X-ray fluorescence intensity on the concentration of a given chemical element in the sample. By irradiating the sample with a powerful X-ray flux, we obtain characteristic fluorescent radiation of atoms proportional to their concentration in the sample. This method is ideal for analyzing large concentrations of components such as nickel (the main component of alloys 79NM, 50N, 50NP), iron, and cobalt (49K2FA, 27Kh, 40KhKhNM).
The atomic emission spectrometer is designed to analyze solid samples exposed to high temperatures. When samples are heated to several thousand degrees, atoms of the substance are ionized, making it possible to determine chemical elements in the alloys from the spectrum. We mainly use the spectrometer to determine carbon and impurity content. Limited content of the latter is critical for all precision alloys as well as for carbon strip from steels 60S2A, 70S2KhA, and U8A. In addition, the atomic emission spectrometer is convenient for precise analysis of corrosion-resistant alloys such as 12Kh18N9 and 12Kh18N10T.
The short-term plan for further development of the X-ray spectral laboratory includes introducing a gas content analyzer to determine nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen concentrations in steels and alloys. This is especially important because gases can lead to pores and cracks, significantly degrading material structure. Knowing gas content helps prevent premature material degradation and improve product quality and service life.
Read more about X-ray spectral analysis and operating principles of equipment for it in our article “X-ray spectral analysis in precision alloy production: a guarantee of quality and uniformity of material properties.”
