Drift monitors

After establishing a calibration on an x-ray fluorescence instrument
everybody likes to use it as long as possible. This wouldn’t be any
problem if the instrument would not show any changes in sensitivity
over time.

But the opposite is the case. The x-ray tube looses intensity over time.
The detector looses sensitivity over time too. Service works like change 
of an x-ray tube or a crystal might have an influence to the sensitivity
as well. 

The loss on intensity is not constant for all elements. Light elements
from Be to Zn normally show a higher influence than heavy elements.

To use an existing calibration over a long time the change in
sensitivity for an element has to be detected by a drift monitor and
then used to correct for it. Such samples are called drift monitors,
monitor samples, reference samples or monitor standards.

A drift monitor must show spezial properties. Such a sample should
not show any change of element composition over a long time.
Today mostly samples from glass often made from silicate glass are
used. However also monitors made from metals are used.

FLUXANA calibrations, installed by us in many customer laboratories
contain a special selection of drift monitors to guarantee an excellent
long term stability. 
These monitor samples were designed especially for the use in our 
customer applications.

Driven by customers we produce monitor samples in our glass production
designed on the customer need.

Use our online-database FLUXearch to find all our glasses!