Recent Elemental Analysis Needs Solved by the Hitachi LabX5000

While a lot of the XRF Sales conversations that we have are with facilities using X-Ray Fluorescence for coating thickness measurement or RoHS screening, we also have a lot of conversations about what is broadly referred to as elemental analysis and it covers testing needs in a number of industries. Often, when elemental analysis is the goal, we will discuss the “bulk analyzers” line from Hitachi High-Tech which includes the well-known X-Supeme8000 and the new LabX5000.
 
We wanted to focus some attention on the newer LabX5000 because the X-Supreme8000 has been around for years. The X-Supreme8000 remains popular because of its turret stage but the LabX5000 offers so many great features and is extremely affordable, so it does get a lot of attention too.

Hitachi LabX5000 in Testing Laboratory

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Before we get to the applications/uses, a little about the system...
​The LabX5000 replaced the previous version known as the LabX3500 (primarily sold under the Oxford Instruments brand) and offers a number of benefits that have improved measurement performance, data management, and a design approach that insures it will be a reliable system for many years no matter the environment it’s used in. Learn about the LabX5000 here.

Three major advancements seen in the LabX5000 are:

• Sample Spinner: as noted, the LabX5000 is a single point measurement system, and that sample holder has a spinner to make samples homogenous. This wasn’t on the previous versions and is critical to obtaining the most accurate and consistent results.
• Location of Detector Tube: the sample is NOT over the detector which is huge in limiting long term issues from sample spills, etc. Additionally, the proximity of the sample to both the detector and x-ray tube results in improved performance over past models. These factors also reduce the drift, so users see repeatable performance measurement after measurement.​
  • Contact us for a few studies performed to show the stability of the LabX5000 (reviewed over several weeks in various conditions…it’s impressive).
• ​No Fans Required (because the x-ray tube is on/off), which make it a completely sealed system and eliminates dust, liquid, etc from potentially causing damage. This results in less maintenance and limits any issues no matter what your working conditions are.

These advancements make the LabX5000 a reliable tool in a variety of work environments while the system itself is a solution for a wide range of elemental analysis needs throughout a variety of industries.
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​It is frequently used for the analysis of petrochemicals, minerals, cement, wood preservatives, and lubricating oils but below we highlight three uses that customers have recently added a Hitachi LabX5000 for through Eastern Applied Research.

Hitachi LabX5000 XRF

Silicone Weight on Paper _ silicone is applied to a wide variety of papers for various end uses and the LabX5000 provides a compact system that can be used close to the production line for monitoring the amount of silicone applied to ensure consistency and increase yield while reducing costs.
Download an Overview of XRF in Silicone Applications
 
Cement Analysis _ XRF is one of the most common techniques for the analysis of minerals and cement because of its simple sample preparation and ease of use. The LabX5000 for cement analysis can show the contents for all key oxides in cement processing with results being available in minutes.
Download the Application Overview for Cement Analysis
 
Plating Bath Analysis _ This use of the LabX5000 ties in with many of our current customers that perform metal finishing. The ability to monitor plating baths with XRF improves end product quality and line efficiency for them. While some XRF’s built for coating measurements can perform bath analysis, the capabilities of a dedicated LabX5000 make it a beneficial tool in many plating departments plus its design limits problems that can occur with spills, etc.
Download the Plating Bath Application Note

These are just a few applications that we’ve worked with recently – contact us if you have any questions about the information above or if you have a testing need that XRF may be a fit for. Learn more about the LabX5000 and watch videos here.

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