Glass

XRD, HT-XRD and Low-Angle Analysis

X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a non-destructive technique for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of crystalline materials, used to identify crystal structure, identify and quantify crystalline phases present, and analyse defects and crystallite size.

It is widely used in industry, geology and mineralogy, as well as in the study of advanced materials, coatings, pharmaceuticals and restoration products.

Instrumentation suited for:

  • determining which crystalline compounds are present in a powder or solid sample, and in what percentage.
  • with a grazing-incidence accessory: it is possible to characterise thin films and coatings with thicknesses on the order of nanometres.
  • with a high-temperature chamber accessory (HT-XRD): it is possible to study the thermal stability and phase transformations of materials (e.g. ceramics, metals, catalysts) at high operating temperatures, to optimise their efficiency and durability.

XRF

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) is a technique used for the elemental analysis of solids or liquids with minimal sample preparation. The sample is irradiated with an X-ray beam, exciting its atoms, which then emit X-rays as they relax. The wavelengths of the emitted X-rays are characteristic of the atomic species present.

Its applications are broad, including analysis of building materials, cultural heritage conservation (identifying pigments and alloys), geology (studying rocks and minerals), environmental monitoring, and quality control across various industrial sectors (e.g. ceramics, glass, metals, oil).

Instrumentation suited for:

  • Qualitative identification of chemical elements (from F to U) present in the sample, at percentage fractions up to 100%.
  • Quantitative determination of chemical elements (from F to U) present in the sample.

Heating Microscope

The heating microscope allows “visual” monitoring of what happens to samples undergoing heat treatment, providing information on material fusibility (softening point, hemisphere point and sphere point)

Instrumentation suited for:

  • Direct characterisation of glazes, glass, frits, ash, continuous casting powders, coal, slag, paints, etc. subjected to heat treatment.
  • Studying material fusibility.
  • Studying the firing cycle of a given material.
  • Studying the wettability of a substrate by a coating material

Dilatometer

Field of application: “Ceramics and glass”.

Instrumentation suited for:

  • Analysis of the firing process of “green” (unfired) pieces.
  • Studying the bond between glaze and ceramic body.
  • Optimising sintering cycles.
  • Measuring the thermal expansion coefficient of glass, glazes and refractory materials.