Patent ID: 7983386
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for carrying out both x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of a crystalline sample, comprising: an evacuable chamber; a sample holder located within the evacuable chamber, for mounting the crystalline sample so that it may be analysed; an XRF tube mounted within the evacuable chamber, for illuminating the crystalline sample with x-rays; an XRF detection arrangement for detecting secondary x-rays emitted from the surface of the crystalline sample as a result of illumination by x-rays from the XRF tube; an XRD tube mounted within the evacuable chamber separately from the XRF tube, for illuminating the crystalline sample with x-rays; an XRD detection arrangement for detecting x-rays of a characteristic wavelength which have been diffracted by the crystalline sample; and a moveable XRD support assembly, comprising a first part configured to mount the XRD tube for relative movement between the XRD tube and the sample holder, and a second part configured to mount the XRD detection arrangement for relative movement between the XRD detection arrangement and the sample holder; wherein the XRD tube is movable relative to the sample holder without affecting the position of the XRF tube.