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Automatic absorption correction in x‐ray fluorescence analysis of intermediate thickness samples using a dual external reference signal
Author(s) -
Van Dyck P.,
Markowicz A.,
Van Grieken R.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
x‐ray spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.447
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1097-4539
pISSN - 0049-8246
DOI - 10.1002/xrs.1300090209
Subject(s) - foil method , absorption (acoustics) , attenuation coefficient , x ray fluorescence , materials science , analytical chemistry (journal) , sample (material) , signal (programming language) , optics , absorption spectroscopy , extended x ray absorption fine structure , x ray , energy (signal processing) , fluorescence , chemistry , physics , chromatography , quantum mechanics , computer science , composite material , programming language
A method has been investigated which allows calculations from the X‐ray fluorescence spectra of the absorption coefficients at any energy for any sample, without any additional measurement. Use is made of the ratio of the characteristic X‐ray signals from a Zr wire positioned in front of the sample and from a Pd foil placed behind the sample, both in a fixed geometry. From the experimentally measured absorption coefficient at the Pd L energy (2.9 keV), the coefficients for higher energies are calculated. By the use of an iterative computer routine in which corrections for the enhancement of the Pd foil by the sample are also included, an accuracy of 2% or better on the absorption coefficient determination can be reached for homogenous samples in one measurement. Grain‐size and heterogeneity effects induce inaccuracies on the absorption coefficient determinations which might well reach 20% for particulate samples like intermediate thickness deposits of geological materials. This approach thus has the same limitations as the classical transmission method for such heterogeneous samples.