Innovation award recognises alloy analyser
The Niton XL3t alloy analyser from Niton UK has won a prestigious R&D 100 award for technological innovation. The handheld x-ray fluorescence instrument has been voted by R&D Magazine as one of the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace in the past year.This is the third time that the Niton alloy analyser series has won an R&D 100 award, the previous times being in 2003 and 1995.
"The award recognises the technological advances incorporated in the new Niton XL3 series," said Michael Sibbald, Niton UK's sales and marketing director. "The instruments now typically take less than two seconds to identify an alloy grade. This is up to five times faster than with previous models."
This leap in performance is mainly due to advances in the instrument's electronics combined with a new powerful state-of-the-art x-ray tube.
The instruments operate on the principle of x-ray fluorescence, which uses x-rays to excite the atoms in a sample and measures the fluorescent x-rays re-emitted by the material. From this they then rapidly determine the elements present as well as their relative concentrations. For samples with known ranges of chemical composition, such as common grades of metal alloys, the analysers can also rapidly identify most sample types by name.
The instruments are invaluable for a wide range of applications, including scrap recycling, PMI (Positive Material Identification), metal fabrication, electronic component testing, solder analysis, lead paint testing, soil testing and RoHS and WEEE compliance.
Niton XL3t
