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this single point on the surface and radiate outwards. Cleaning the instrument’s
base and surroundings will correct the problem.
Incomplete
disk
This symptom causes disks that have the shape of a moon crescent, i.e. a circle
with a missing section.
It is caused by the mold not containing enough flux, or by the mold not being
leveled. Level instrument/mold holder or add flux accordingly.
Non-
homogenous
disk
When holding the glass disk in front of a light source, if you can observe powdery
residues, then some sample may not have dissolved. This can sometimes be
mistaken for micro-bubbles in the disk, which has an entirely different origin.
Sample is not fully oxidized
As we know, un-oxidized sample cannot be dissolved in flux, and will also cause
damage to platinumware. Make sure to use the proper type and amount of
oxidizer.
Oversaturation
A fusion being a dissolution reaction, it is perfectly possible to obtain an
oversaturated bead. Simply reducing the amount of sample will correct the
problem.
Improper grinding
If the sample is too coarse, or if it lumps together easily, then the time allotted by
the fusion program might not be long enough.
One can either extend the fusion duration, or grind the sample to a finer
granulometry. We recommend smaller than 100 µm. Also, a manual mixing of the
sample with the flux can often prevent the lumping issues.
Sometimes, the small “dust” is actually gas (see below).
Bubbles in disk
Typical with carbonate samples, this phenomenon exhibits gaseous bubbles that
remain imprisoned within the glass disk.
To correct the problem, simply set the pouring step with an extra minute or two,
and use a very slow speed.
Summary of Contents for K1 PRIME
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