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4.5.5 Take Proper Care of your TrueX Analyzer
Keeping your analyzer maintained in good condition will help minimize the risk
of accidental exposure. Mechanical malfunction of the shutter can be avoided by
maintaining the Kapton window, as described in the User Guide. This prevents
foreign objects from entering your Beethor X3G Series.
4.5.6 Avoid Over-Exposures
Direct contact with the window could result in overexposures in the times
indicated in Table 0-4 below.
4.5.7 Safe Handling of Samples
As mentioned many times in this chapter, never place any part of your body in
the path of the X-ray beam. There is always a safe way to handle samples whether
they are small, irregularly shaped, or of low density. Never look into the path of the
primary beam.
Small Samples
A small sample would be any sample that is smaller than the Kapton window.
Small samples present a unique risk because they don’t block the entire beam path.
The difficulty with placing small samples down on a work surface to analyze them is
that you may get readings from the work surface that interfere with analytical results.
A test stand is an effective way of analyzing small samples accurately and safely.
Never hold samples during analysis or look into the path of the primary beam.
Irregularly Shaped Samples
Irregularly shaped samples may not allow the proximity button to be depressed,
or they may not entirely cover the primary beam and cause additional scattering. A
back scatter shield is a safe way of reducing your radiation exposure while effectively
analyzing an irregularly shaped sample.
Low Density Materials (such as plastics)
X-rays are attenuated more through denser materials and less through low density
materials such as plastic. This causes higher dose rates in the scattered radiation. If
you are frequently handling low density samples, you should consider the use of test
stands, backscatter shields, or the equivalent.
4.6 Emergency Procedures
This page contains emergency contact information that should be available to the
operator at all times.
