Quality control is crucial when producing metals and alloys for use in harsh environments, as even small deviations from the intended composition can cause major issues and put lives in danger. Luckily, there is a range of methods that can be used to analyze materials, either in a lab or on site. On-site testing has the great advantage of giving the results quickly, and a popular choice is handheld X-ray fluorescence (HH-XRF). This article describes how HH-XRF can help manufacturers to streamline their quality control processes and ensure materials meet the requirements for demanding applications.
Manufacturing components for the aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, or power generation industries requires use of a large variety of metals – including exotic metals – and alloys, such as stainless steel-, nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys, and copper, aluminum and titanium alloys. These materials must operate under harsh conditions while withstanding a significant amount of mechanical stress. A good example is the blades used in gas turbines, which work continuously at high speed and under extreme temperatures. It is therefore crucial that manufacturers of these components verify that the composition of the materials used meet the necessary specifications. Quality control programs are therefore an integral part of the manufacturing process and, in some cases, involve sending samples to a laboratory for analysis. Unfortunately, this approach is not only destructive, but also very time consuming, as it can take several days to receive the results. These slow turnaround times have led to the development of novel technologies – including HH-XRF – that can be used on-site to deliver immediate answers.