Three nonmetals - oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and hydrogen (H) - influence the quality, service life, and mechanical characteristics of all metallic materials. Unlike metallic alloy components, the amounts of O, N, and H can vary significantly along the whole process chain, from raw material manufacture to product completion. Even when present in trace levels, O, N, and H have a significant impact on material characteristics.
The G6 LEONARDO is based on inert gas fusion (IGF), which fuses the sample material at high temperatures in a graphite crucible. This principle is also known as gas fusion analysis (GFA) or melt extraction (ME), since an inert carrier gas extracts the total oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen from the sample as it melts. The sophisticated sequencing technology ensures reliable findings.
The goal of an IGF analysis is to determine the sample content of the light elements O, N, and H in the trace range with absolute precision. That is why the G6 LEONARDO uses modern sequencing technology to detect the gases released by the sample directly, exactly unmodified, and with a 1:1 ratio, using proven scientific principles for reliable findings.
It also enables oxygen determination without extra reagents and uses argon (Ar) as the carrier gas rather than helium (He), ensuring high reliability and minimal ownership costs.
Features
ppb (ng/g) Limit of Detection for Hydrogen and Nitrogen
The high-end thermal conductivity detector used for hydrogen and nitrogen measurement offers detection limits in the sub-ppm range (based on 1 g of sample mass).
0 L/min Consumption of Compressed Air
Lower electrode movement via electronically controlled motion eliminates the need for additional working gases and ensures optimal contact between the crucible and electrodes, resulting in increased safety and dependability.
> 3000 °C Achievable by the Advanced Electrode Furnace for Refractory Samples
FusionControl allows for accurate temperature control in the water-cooled electrode furnace. Advanced sample handling incorporates an integrated, maintenance-free sample port that protects the sample from undesirable heat.
The G6 Leonardo is an excellent option for process and quality control in primary metal manufacturing and processing, ceramics, and powder metallurgical processes because of its ready-to-use, pre-calibrated procedures for several industry-standard applications.
Key Benefits
- Advanced sample handling for IGF analysis consists of electronic motion control, a water-cooled sample port, a large capacity dust trap, and effective in-line particle filtering
- Modern detectors with reference channels allow for direct and unadulterated readings of all emitted gases
- Continuous contact-free temperature measurement of the sample
- Easy-to-use software
Applications
Iron, Steel, Cobalt, Nickel, Ferroalloys
Determining the proportion of oxygen and nitrogen is crucial during the steelmaking process, the final alloy modification through the inclusion of ferroalloys, and the creation of nickel- and cobalt-based alloys. The G6 LEONARDO combines ease of use with robustness to provide quick and precise oxygen and nitrogen results for quality and process control in these manufacturing processes.
Metal Processing
From stainless steel, aluminum, copper, nickel, titanium, zirconium, and other special metal compositions, the G6 LEONARDO provides critical knowledge about the chemical composition of every demanding metal-processing task in aviation, space, automotive, biomedical, electronic, and related industries.
Glass and Ceramics
Refractory oxides, nitrides, and carbides are widely used in a variety of applications, including refractory materials in industry, high-performance ceramics in electronics, and metal cutting. The amount of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen present in the process or finished product has a significant impact on the distinctive qualities of glass and ceramics.
The G6 LEONARDO is a superb tool for the rapid examination of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products, thanks to sample protection technology, FusionControl, and its resilience.
Copper Production
When grading copper, the most essential quality criterion is the quantity of residual contaminants, namely oxygen. High oxygen levels increase the risk of hydrogen embrittlement and intergranular failure. Advanced sequencing guarantees that the G6 LEONARDO analyzes oxygen with excellent dependability and low ownership costs, while FusionControl allows for exact simultaneous oxygen and hydrogen measurement in dual-element setups.
Titanium, Zirconium, and Other Refractory Metals
Titanium combined with elements such as aluminum (Al), vanadium (V), and molybdenum (Mo) creates low-density, high-strength alloys with good corrosion resistance. These high-performance alloys, which are employed in space, aviation, military, nuclear, biomedical, and other demanding applications, are impacted by their oxygen and nitrogen content, but the most important specification is the hydrogen concentration, which causes hydride precipitation and cracking. The G6 LEONARDO is ready to meet the needs of these demanding sectors.
Aluminum and Magnesium
The manufacturing and processing of these reactive light metals rely heavily on oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen creates insoluble, refractory inclusions, whereas hydrogen dissolved in the liquid melt becomes retained during solidification, resulting in hydrogen-filled gaps and blisters. The G6 LEONARDO, with its exclusive FusionControl and protective technology, is an appropriate quality control instrument for the aluminum manufacturing sector.
Powder Metallurgy and Additive Manufacturing
Metal powders used in additive manufacturing and other powder metallurgical processes are high-purity materials with well-defined particle characteristics. Their huge specific surface renders them vulnerable to “aging” by oxidation/moisture along the manufacturing chain, with oxygen and hydrogen content determining yield rate and product quality. The ready-to-use G6 LEONARDO meets the requirements of these developing industrial applications.
Specifications
Source: XRF Scientific
|
Specification |
Benefit |
| Sample Types |
Inorganic, dry, any form or shape |
Flexibility |
| Sample Dimensions |
8 x 8 mm cross-section (pieces, chips, pins, granules), different sample ports available for special applications |
Wide variety of sample materials |
| Detectors: Oxygen |
Nondispersive IR absorption of CO, no moving parts, multiple range detectors with reference beam and on-board linearization |
Reliable, maintenance-free performance without drift |
| Detectors: Nitrogen and Hydrogen |
Thermal conductivity detector with reference channel and adjustable gain amplifier |
Reliable, adjustable ranges, drift-free |
| Furnace |
Water-Cooled Electrode Furnace with FusionControl |
Solid high-temperature operation for refractories, precise temperature control |
| Motion Control |
Lower electrode movement by reliable electronic motion module |
Robust, cost-saving operation without working gas. Automatic, torque-limited readjustment ensures ideal crucible-to-electrode contact and safety for the crucible, furnace, and operator. |
| Sample Port |
Rotating sample port integrated into a water-cooled furnace block |
Shields sensitive samples from heat input and hydrogen losses before analysis, allows capsule-free measurement of grains without jamming. |
| Particle Filtering |
High-capacity dust trap followed by in-line particle filtering |
Stable analytical results with reduced maintenance and component protection |
| Cooling Water |
4 l/min at 3 bar supply pressure |
Fits on every usual tap water line, tap, water-saving design with solenoid valve: chiller also possible |
| Carrier Gas |
Ar (O, N), He (O, N), N2 (H) each 99.995% purity (99.9990% for trace analysis) |
Flexible carrier gas choice without compromises |
| Noise Emission |
< 55 dB(A) peak |
Enjoy the silence |
| Calibration |
Single and multipoint calibration, advanced weighting algorithm with error bars, and range merging |
Easy simultaneous calibration of all ranges with confidence |
| Reagents |
- Magnesium perchlorate
- Sodium hydroxide on support
- Copper oxide, rare earth base (N-model)
- Schuetze reagent (H-model)
|
|
| Power Supply |
-400–480 VAC (± 10%), 50–60 Hz, 32 A, 7 kVA, 1 Phase plus N or 2 Phase, grounding wire
-230 VAC (± 10%), 50–60 Hz, 64 A, 7 kVA available as an option |
Compatible with worldwide power and current configurations |
| Models Available |
Single or dual element O, N, H, ON, OH |
Ideal tool for process and quality control |
| Dimensions and Weight |
71 x 66 x 78 cm (W x D x H), ~145 kg |
Compact form, easy to maintain |