The QCX® ASP100 Automated Soft Press: a game-changer in XRD analysis

Full quantitative characterisation of the mineral content adds significant value to your operation as it offers huge potential for improvements to processes and quality control.

But obtaining accurate results can be complicated. One of the biggest sources of inaccuracies is the non-ideal spherical shape of the crystallites in many minerals, even after grinding. This causes preferred orientation in the pressed sample, and leads to errors in the XRD analysis. This happens especially with phases that have a low symmetry, like clay materials. Pressing samples at high pressure can increase this error. To obtain useful results, preparing your sample correctly and reducing the preferred orientation of the powder is essential. We found many labs were using a work-around – manually back-loading the sample into the holder, and applying minimal pressure to the sample surface. But this was a time- consuming technique that required a skilled analyst, and had the potential to introduce human error. There had to be an easier way.

So we came up with the ASP100 Automated Soft Press – a fully automatic sample press designed specifically to address the preferred orientation issue. This revolutionary unit produces high-quality pressed samples for quantitative XRD analysis using the Rietveld Method. It also produces samples for near infrared analysis (NIR), colour measurements and energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis (ED XRF) for industries including minerals, cement and fine chemicals.

Using our patented soft pressing technology, combined with randomisation technology and a textured pressing tool, it virtually eliminates all but the most severe preferred orientation. It produces a consistently flat sample surface with high precision from sample to sample, reducing errors caused by variations in sample height displacement. You get consistent, repeatable sample preparation, every time.

It is especially suited to sample pressing for materials containing clays and micas, and also appropriate for samples containing plate-shaped minerals, and amorphous materials.

There’s no room for error in your analysis. With manual back-loading of samples, studies have shown huge variation in samples prepared by different operators. Even when the same operator prepares multiple samples of the same homogenized material, moderate variations have been recorded.

The ASP100 changes all that. By automating the whole process, it not only eliminates human error and improves the reproducibility of your results, but enhances efficiency in your laboratory as well. There’s no longer the need for time consuming, manual back-loading of samples and hand pressing.

With the automatic function of the QCX ASP100, you can produce more than 15 samples an hour with quick and easy processing. The machine automatically doses powder into the ring and presses to your pre-defined pressing recipe, meaning you get consistent, repeatable samples. The machine has an automatic cleaning function that prevents contamination. And the in-built ring magazine ensures uniform ring wear. Plus there’s less material handling for your operators, keeping them safe from potentially hazardous substances.

The ASP100 is a versatile unit that reliably produces samples for a range of different applications and materials. With fully adjustable pressing parameters, and a choice of either smooth or textured pressing surfaces, the unit presses samples according to the material characteristics and your specific requirements. Its modular design means that it can be used as a stand-alone unit, or fit into a fully automated installation.

Even for situations where there is a relatively low sample throughput, the advantages of improved data quality and enhanced efficiency in the laboratory justify investment in the QCX ASP100’s state-of-the-art technology.