In the unyielding pursuit of knowledge, science stands at the cutting-edge of technological advancement and cosmic exploration, breaking down barriers and helping humanity better understand its place in the universe.
It is a good day job, to say the least, and underneath some of the most advanced technology available to anyone in today’s world, there are some relatively straightforward concepts and ideas.
X-ray diffraction is a prime example of this – a highly effective yet simple set of techniques and formulas made marvelous with the help of some modern machinery.
While the ideas that brought the technique to live were around over one hundred years ago, x-ray diffraction is still widely used for great impact in many areas of science right now.
If you want to find out more about what this handy scientific technique is used for, read on!
How Does it Work?
It works by using an x-ray diffraction spectrometer to fire x-rays at a material sample, which causes the wavelengths to then scatter away from the sample, enabling the observer to measure the pattern and identify the molecular composition of the substance in question.
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Sample Purity Detection
When working with chemicals at the molecular level, be it to create new pesticides, drugs, food flavorings, or whatever the case may be, unwavering accuracy is required.
This is one area in which XRD is invaluable, as it can enable biochemists to test the purity of their samples quickly and reliably.
In a heavily regulated industry like pharmaceuticals and consumer chemicals, sample purity detection is a primary concern for professionals, especially since a great deal of money is often involved at the highest level.
In fact, according to a report in BioSpace, the median price of developing a new drug and bringing it to the market was $985 million in 2020.
For industries who that need to spend so much on research and development, making sure they use the best and most accurate tools available is crucial for success and quality assurance.
Manufacturing Construction Materials
In order to cut costs without letting go of quality, industries around the world need to implement some cutting-edge tricks and techniques into their daily operations.
XRD can come to the rescue in this regard, and for the construction industry, this can be a huge time and money saver.
By identifying and altering the chemical composition of sample materials, manufacturers can create sturdier products on a molecular level, which not only means a higher quality finished product, but it means that they could save money on their inventory too.
Quality control is essential in an area like construction, where going wrong could have some serious consequences for the general public.
Portable XRD solutions can be used to analyze the quality of the final build material, therefore boosting the level of safety and security on the build-in question.