Benefits of Olympus XRD Analyzers

• Easy Sample Preparation: Conventional XRD instruments typically require extensive sample collection and preparation, since a large batch of sample must be finely ground and pressed carefully into a pellet. If the sample is ground too finely or pressed with too much pressure, you could introduce sample preparation effects, such as preferred orientation. In contrast, our XRD analyzers require only 15 mg of sample, easily obtained with the supplied sample kit.
• Simultaneous Measurement: Conventional XRD instruments take a few seconds to collect each 2-theta measurement, so scanning the entire 2-theta range can take as long as several hours. Olympus XRD analyzers use a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector to simultaneously collect the entire 2-theta range, so the complete diffraction pattern is visible almost immediately.
• 2D X-Ray Diffractometer: Many XRD tools use an X-ray detector that captures the photons coming off the sample in only one plane, or a 1D experiment. Our CCD-based XRD instrument can collect a slice of the diffraction ring to help users understand if the sample was prepared correctly (particle statistics and/or preferred orientation of the crystals). Using this information, you can confirm the quantitative data is accurate and representative.
• Transmission Geometry: Unlike larger conventional XRD instruments that use reflective geometry, our analyzers feature a transmission geometry where the X-ray beam passes through the sample. The amount of sample in the cell is fixed so that changes in density will not affect the resolution. This is particularly important in lower density materials, such as pharmaceutical samples, where the fixed penetration results in improved resolution when compared to a reflection-based instrument.
• Energy Discrimination X-Ray Detector: Larger conventional XRD instruments typically cannot use an energy sensitive detector, so the detector is impacted by photons not used in the XRD experiment. In contrast, our XRD analyzer removes photons not directly involved in the X-ray diffraction experiment, such as X-ray fluorescence photons, to provide a better signal-to-noise pattern.
• Cobalt and Copper Tube Options: Olympus XRD analyzers come standard with a rugged cobalt (Co) target X‐ray tube. This anode is the preferred choice of geologists and mineralogists, as it is excellent at analyzing samples with high iron (Fe) content. However, some applications (i.e. high manganese content), require a copper (Cu) target X‐ray tube. Olympus supplies either X-ray tube anode, depending on application needs.