Demo and teardown of an X-ray fluorescence gun (measures chemical composition)

2020-08-30

[public] 177K views, 13.9K likes, 66.0 dislikes audio only

I show how an X-ray fluorescence gun works, do a teardown and failure analysis, and discuss a new kind of XRF tech now "available" on eBay.

The XRF data can be transferred from the gun to a PC, and analyzed with http://pymca.sourceforge.net/ I did this for several materials, but ran out of time in this video to show the software usage, which is quite involved.

Good overall description of XRF: https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/University_Physics/Book%3A_University_Physics_(OpenStax)/Map%3A_University_Physics_III_-_Optics_and_Modern_Physics_(OpenStax)/08%3A_Atomic_Structure/8.06%3A_Atomic_Spectra_and_X-rays

Electron shell shielding described via roller derby ?! https://courses.lumenlearning.com/cheminter/chapter/electron-shielding/

XRF supplies: https://www.amptek.com/

MightyOhm geiger counter: https://mightyohm.com/blog/products/geiger-counter/

The two XRF guns in this video were generously donated by one of my viewers. Thank you!

The Tribogenics tape-peel XRF gun on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Watson-XRF-Handheld-Metal-Alloy-Analyzer/123646159115

Applied Science on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AppliedScience