A Tubular Aerosol Suspension Chamber for the Preparation of Powder Samples for X-Ray Diffraction Analysis

Abstract

Highly uniform fine powder sample layers may be prepared for X-ray diffractometry by aerosol suspension and collection on glass fiber filter substrates. A tubular aerosol suspension chamber (TASC) has been fabricated for this purpose. Essential components include a 500 ml gas buret, 4.7-cm filter cassette, rotameter, and rotary pump. Aerosol particles are generated within the TASC buret by convection within a fluidized bed of glass beads mixed with the sample. Exceptional uniformity of load and randomness of particle orientation has been demonstrated for samples prepared with this system. For quantitative analytical work accurate intensities may be obtained using corrections to raw intensities based on fundamental sample and filter properties.