Techniques/FUSION
XRF, ICP & AA sample preparation
Fusion consists in the mixing of an oxidized sample with a lithium borate flux. This mix is heated to around 1000°C. At this temperature, the flux melts and dissolves samples to form a perfectly homogeneous mass. Finally, the molten material is either cast to form a glass disk to be analyzed by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), or poured for a rapid dissolution into an acid to be analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), Atomic Absorption (AA) or any traditional Wet Chemistry method.