Thermo’s CCD-Based Spectrometer Developed to Support Magnesium Matrix

Thermo Electron Corporation announces that its second generation Charge Coupled Device (CCD)-based spectrometer, the ARL Quantris™, has been newly configured to support magnesium alloys applications.

The ARL Quantris provides customers with quantitative as well as qualitative analysis allowing highly accurate, stable and reliable determination of magnesium alloys in high-pressured environments such as the automotive, aerospace, power generation and Information, Communication Technologies (ICT) equipment industries.

Magnesium alloys are lightweight materials showing good mechanical properties and castability. The ARL Quantris is the first CCD-based instrument that achieves analytical performance equivalent to traditional Photo-Multiplier Tube (PMT) spectrometers. This state-of-the-art spectrometer is configured with three spectrographs in order to cover wavelengths from 130 to 780 nm, enabling the analysis of all elements of interest, including Rear Earth Elements (REE) in magnesium alloys. In addition, the ARL Quantris is equipped with a special magnesium passivation system that eliminates the risk of explosion of the magnesium dust residues in the sample stand and argon filter.

The ARL Quantris features Thermo’s patented Current Controlled Source (CCS), which allows the definition of the best discharge parameters for every type of metal and alloy. Furthermore, the instrument enjoys excellent stability and autonomy. Drift corrections and instrument stand maintenance are required only once a week thereby leading to lower operation costs.

As the number of ARL Quantris installations is growing, the feedback received from customers is very positive as they experience analytical results far superior to their expectations. To date, no instruments have incurred any operational defaults since their installation, and many have already been in use for more than two years.