XRD Sample Submission
All requests for XRD must be submitted to the lab manager, Dr. Wanda Aylward, along with sample submission forms clearly indicating the nature of the samples. As this is an x-ray emitting device, all samples are to be submitted to Wanda for analysis.
Forms
Sample Preparation
This facility can accommodate powders and thin films of solid materials. Powdered samples should be crushed to a fine powder, ca. 10 um, either by hand using a mortar and pestle or by using a mechanical miller/crusher. Approximately 1-2 grams of powder are required to fill a side-loaded mount, which is the best method for mounting samples with preferred orientation issues. Top-loaded mounts are available for smaller volume samples.
Thin films may be deposited on a variety of substrates, most commonly glass or metal slides. Users should contact Wanda to ensure that the thin film samples can be properly mounted in the XRD.
Users may contact Mr. Matt Crocker for information regarding TERRA’s Crushing facility.
Suggested reading
1. Elements of X-Ray Diffraction, B. D. Cullity, Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1978
2. Fundamentals of Powder Diffraction and Structural Characterization of Materials, V. K. Pecharsky and P. Y. Zavalij, Springer, 2005
3. X-Ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals, D. M. Moore and R. C. Reynolds, Jr. Oxford, 1997
4. The Rietveld Method, R. A. Young, Oxford, 2000
5. https://serc.carleton.edu/research_education/geochemsheets/techniques/XRD.html