Micro-XRF is a significant tool for the analysis of small regions. A micro-X-ray beam can be created in the laboratory by various focusing X-ray optics. Previously, nondestructive 3D-XRF analysis had not been easy because of the high penetration of fluorescent X-rays emitted into the sample. A recently developed confocal micro-XRF technique combined with polycapillary X-ray lenses enables depth...

The same sherd was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and a micro X-ray fluorescence tube attached to a scanning electron microscope (Micro-XRF-SEM) to compare the effectiveness of elemental detection of iron-based pigment. To enhance SEM-EDS mapping, the sherd was carbon coated. The carbon coating was not required to produce Micro-XRF-SE...

Micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) analysis is a promising method for determining elemental distributions of small regions. Moreover, a recent trend in micro-XRF is 3D elemental analysis by using confocal micro-XRF instruments combined with two polycapillary x-ray lenses. Our research group has been developed confocal micro-XRF instruments by using polycapillary x-ray lenses, and its spatial ...

Micro-XRF analysis provides us with elemental maps, which are very useful for understanding the samples under test. Usually, scanning-type elemental mapping is performed. That means, a sample stage is scanned to a fixed X-ray micro beam. XRF analysis is performed at the scanned points, leading to 2D elemental mapping. One of the drawbacks of this technique is the long acquisition time depending...

Grazing-exit x-ray fluorescence (GE-XRF) and micro x-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) methods were applied to chemical microchips as a detection method. Since an energy-dispersive x-ray detector was used, the simultaneous detection of multiple elements was possible. An analyzing region was especially designed on the microchip so that a sample solution could be dried and concentrated in a suitable a...

Solid/liquid interfaces are important locations for various chemical reactions, such as electrode chemical reactions and metal corrosions. Conventional surface analytical methods, such as XPS and SEM-EDS, have been applied to solid materials after being removed from the liquid phase. These methods do not involve direct observation, although useful information is available. It is important to di...

A new micro-XRF instrument was developed in combination with an atomic force microscope (AFM). A small pinhole of 5 or 10 μm was made on the AFM cantilever. The center of the micro X-ray beam generated by a polycapillary X-ray lens was passed through the pinhole. The present experiment demonstrated that the size of the original X-ray beam of 48 μm produced by the polycapillary lens was reduced ...

Synchrotron-based micro-X-ray fluorescence (XRF) combined with scanning electron microscopy-based energy dispersive micro-analysis (EDS) has been used to determine the elemental distribution of contaminants (e.g., Ni) and of chemical elements inherent to the cement matrix (e.g., Si, Ca, Al, S) in hardened cement paste. Detailed information on the cement microstructure was gained by using backsc...

Enhancement of XRF intensity was investigated by using an Au coated glass-capillary. Au was electroplated on an inner wall of the glass-capillary with a thickness of 100 nm. The Au coated glass-capillary was attached to a micro focus x-ray tube. The XRF intensity from the pure metal samples was measured by a silicon drift x-ray detector. It was confirmed that the intensity of XRF was enhanced b...

The prediction of the service life of concrete materials is difficult, mainly because of their complex heterogeneous microstructure and their random nature. Studying the presence of cracks in concrete and their effect on chloride transport and binding properties is of great interest in civil engineering. Cracks with different widths and depths will reduce the effective cover thickness and accel...