Platinum Labware from XRF Scientific

XRF Scientific offers a wide range of Platinum Crucibles, Dishes and Molds. The Platinum Labware from XRF Scientific has standard configurations; however the company can assist in the design and manufacture of specialized platinum products. The products can meet numerous laboratory needs from the most regular platinum utensils through to the most complex individual designs. Fusion Platinum Labware is available to suit a wide variety of machines, including its own xrFuse and Phoenix lines, and from other manufacturers such as Claisse, Katanax, Vulcan, Fluxana, Herzog and PANalytical.

Materials

Metals used for laboratory apparatus will have to possess the following properties:

Ductility

High temperature strength

High melting point

Oxidation resistance

Corrosion resistance

Platinum and its alloys have these qualities and is thus the most extensively used metal for analytical laboratory apparatus. Properties of platinum and some standard platinum alloys are briefly discussed in the following paragraphs. All platinum from XRF Scientific Ltd comply with International Metal Standards.

Platinum

It is well-known and the least rare of the platinum group metals. Its ductility, high melting point of 1773 °C and superior resistance to chemical attack by acids makes it highly ideal for laboratory ware.

Platinum 10% Rhodium

It has a melting point of 1850 °C, and compared to other platinum alloys, it has greater hardness and higher strength. It can maintain its shape under the hottest furnace conditions.

Platinum 5% Gold

It is a universally-accepted material of choice for crucible and casting molds for spectro-graphic analysis by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). This alloy has higher temperature strength compared to pure platinum. It also has a “non-wetting” property, which results in easy removal of the sample after fusion and allows for numerous reproducible assays.

Platinum 3.5% Rhodium

The rhodium alloys have higher hardness and high temperature strength making it ideal for more challenging conditions.

Platinum Gold Rhodium (90/5/5)

This alloy integrates the “non-wetting” property of the Pt/Au alloy and the additional strength and durability of Pt/Rh alloys.

Silver

Pure silver can be used for fusion with alkali hydroxid.

Gold

Gold can be used in labware. It is frequent used for hydrofluoric acid treatment of siliceous materials.