Katanax X-FLUXER, Руководство пользователя

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IMPORTANT : Heating a sample containing metallic species at high
temperatures will cause an alloying reaction, damaging the crucible, and
possibly damaging the instrument.
Flux blend
Typical fusions use a mix of lithium metaborate (LiM) and lithium tetraborate
(LiT). Lithium metaborate alone typically offers a better sample solubility, but can
lead to crystallization of the bead. Tetraborate stabilizes the glass, but may limit
solubility for some samples. Thus, to optimize solubility and obtain stable glass
disks, one must use the correct LiT/LiM flux ratio.
The mixing ratio is determined chiefly by the acidity of the sample. Acidic samples
require a basic flux (more LiM), while alkaline samples need an acidic flux (more
LiT) and neutral samples call for neutral flux (50% LiT + 50% LiM).
Here is a list of common oxides, along with the recommended flux.
Simple oxide Recommended flux
K
2
O, Na
2
O, BaO, SrO, Li
2
O, CaO, MgO,
BeO
Lithium tetraborate
Fe
2
O
3
, Sb
2
O
3
, ZrO
2
, TiO
2
, SnO
2
, V
2
O
5
,
SeO
3
, Ag
2
O, MnO, PbO, CoO, ZnO,
CuO, NiO, Cr
2
O
3
50% Lithium tetraborate –
50% lithium metaborate
Al
2
O
3
, B
2
O
3
, SiO
2
, P
2
O
5
, GeO
2
, Sb
2
O
3
,
TeO
2
Lithium metaborate
Naturally, actual samples are generally composed of more than one oxide type, so
a rough proportion must be calculated to determine the optimal flux type.
One notable exception is when one makes solutions. Since making a solution
involves the complete dissolution of the melt into an acid, one does not care that
the melt crystallize when it cools; it is not only unavoidable, it is desirable .
Therefore, when making a solution, one can pretty much always use lithium
metaborate only, to increase sample solubility and melt fluidity.
The choice of flux is also governed by the various chemicals that must be added.
For example, many samples are initially un-oxidized, and thus need to be
oxidized; since borate fluxes only dissolve oxides (metallic material ruins crucibles
at high temperatures). Addition of oxidizers is often the easiest solution, but flux
type must be adjusted accordingly.
Amount of flux and sample to use
Today’s market has seen a proliferation of various mold diameters. Consequently,
one must adapt the amount of flux and sample to obtain a full disk that will not
overflow out of the mold.
Our recommendation is to measure the actual inner diameter on the bottom of
the mold and apply the following formula, to obtain the total mass of sample and
flux: