Method and apparatus for preparing an analytical sample by fusion
AssigneeMateriaux Nieka Inc.
InventorsLouis Croisetière, Arnaud Noblesse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a method for preparing an analytical sample by fusion. A mixture of a sample and flux material is heated and stirred, in a crucible, at a temperature sufficient to fuse the mixture and obtain a substantially homogeneous fused mixture; a first portion of heat radiation radiating from the crucible is reflected back to the crucible so as to provide additional heat to fuse the mixture, while heating and stirring the mixture; and the homogeneous fused mixture, is subsequently cooled, thereby forming the analytical sample.
Claims23
A method for preparing an analytical sample by fusion for X-ray fluorescence (XRF), atomic absorption (AA) or inductively induced plasma (ICP) analysis, the method, comprising:
- heating and stirring, in a crucible, a mixture of a sample and a flux material at a temperature sufficient to fuse the mixture and obtain a substantially homogeneous fused mixture, wherein the flux material is a salt having a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the sample;
- while heating and stirring the mixture, reflecting a first portion of heat radiation radiating from the crucible back to the crucible using a heat-conducting and reflective surface provided around of and at a distance from the crucible, so as to provide additional heat to fuse the mixture;
- indirectly measuring the temperature of the crucible, comprising:
- absorbing a second portion of the heat radiation radiating from the crucible into a heat-conducting and reflective surface;
- measuring the temperature of the heat-conducting and reflective surface;
- calculating the temperature of the crucible from the temperature of the heat-conducting and reflective surface in accordance with a predetermined correlation between the temperature of the crucible and the temperature of the heat-conducting and reflective surface;
- and
- cooling the substantially homogeneous fused mixture, thereby forming the analytical sample.
An apparatus for preparing an analytical sample by fusion for X-ray fluorescence (XRF), atomic absorption (AA) or inductively induced plasma (ICP) analysis, the apparatus, comprising:
- a crucible for receiving a mixture of a sample and a flux material, wherein the flux material is a salt having a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the sample;
- a crucible support for supporting the crucible;
- a heater configured to heat the crucible and fuse the mixture to obtain a fused mixture;
- a stirring unit for stirring the fused mixture in the crucible;
- a heat-conducting and reflective surface provided around of and at a distance from the crucible, to reflect a first portion of heat radiation radiating from the crucible back to the crucible and absorb a second portion of the heat radiation radiating from the crucible;
- and
- a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the heat-conducting and reflective surface.
An apparatus for preparing an analytical sample by fusion for X-ray fluorescence (XRF), atomic absorption (AA) or inductively induced plasma (ICP) analysis, the apparatus, comprising crucibles for receiving a mixture of a sample and a flux material, wherein the flux material is a salt having a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the sample, wherein the apparatus further comprises, for each one of the crucibles:
- a crucible support for supporting a corresponding crucible;
- a heater configured to heat the corresponding crucible and fuse the mixture to obtain a fused mixture;
- a stirring unit for stirring the fused mixture in the corresponding crucible;
- a heat-conducting and reflective surface provided around of and at a distance from the corresponding crucible, the heat-conducting and reflective surface reflecting a first portion of heat radiation radiating from the corresponding crucible back to the corresponding crucible and absorbing a second portion of the heat radiation radiating from the corresponding crucible;
- and
- a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the heat-conducting and reflective surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.