Portable X-ray Fluorescence analysis (XRF) is a non-destructive technique that is capable of in situ simultaneous multielement analysis. The instrument is placed in contact with the sample to be analyzed, and analytical results are immediately available for review by the operator. The technique can, therefore, be used to determine lead in water pipes, valves and fittings (Safe Drinking Water Act amended in January 2011 reduces the allowable level of Pb in brass components that come into contact with drinking water to 0.25%)

Portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer operates on a principle similar to laboratory-based energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The principle of operation is that X-rays from an excitation source interact with the test surface causing the emission of secondary fluorescence X-rays that have energies characteristic of the atoms in the material.

Vollmer-Gray’s laboratory is equipped with a Thermo Fisher Niton XL-2 Handheld XRF Analyzer for a fast, easy, completely nondestructive method of analyzing alloy components, including percent by weight of Cu, Zn, Pb etc. in brass plumbing components. With this state of art XRF alloy analyzer, a complete alloy chemistry of a brass component takes between 2 and 5 seconds.