Introduction; The Fusion Theory; Automatic Fluxers - Katanax K2 Prime Manual

This section intends to introduce the reader to the fusion technique and to
familiarize him or her to the K2 Prime.
The fusion
theory
Fusion is a technique used to prepare inorganic samples, with a view to analyze
them by x-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic
absorption (AA) or any traditional wet chemistry method. Typical samples include:
cements, ores, slag, sediments, soils, rocks, ceramics, pigments, glasses and
even metals.
A fusion can produce either a small, homogenous solid glass disk (or "bead") for
XRF, or an acid solution for other analytical methods.
The process of fusion as a sample preparation method exhibits many advantages
over other methods, as it does not produce mineralogy, grain size or orientation
effects and the result is perfectly homogenous.
In sample preparation by fusion, the sample never actually melts. It is merely
dissolved into a solvent. This solvent, generally a lithium borate flux, is solid at
room temperature and must be molten to dissolve anything. This is the only
reason the process requires heat.
Automatic
fluxers
Because of the potential risk of manipulating red-hot samples and to increase
repeatability of temperature, mixing and duration, the industry has now adopted
the automated fusion machine as the standard equipment to prepare samples by
fusion.
Therefore, the peak temperature of a sample preparation by fusion is
determined only by the type of flux, not the type of sample.
Katanax does not recommend exceeding 1050°C when using lithium borates.
Katanax does not recommend exceeding 1000°C when using sodium borates.
Heating above those temperatures could cause flux evaporation that could bias
the subsequent analysis.

Introduction

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