X-ray Diffraction Instrumentation

X-ray diffraction (XRD) instrumentation is used for determining the crystalline structure of materials based on X-ray scattering. XRD is widely used in many academic fields including materials science, chemistry, physics, geology, and biology. Also, in the pharmaceutical industry X-ray diffraction plays an important role in characterizing crystalline materials in pharmaceuticals and proteins.

The X-ray source as well as the detector system of an XRD instrument operates under vacuum. The vacuum system is a fundamental part of the X-ray diffraction instrumentation and requires pumps and gauges to operate.

Recommended and typical vacuum gauges for X-ray diffraction instruments

The X-ray diffraction instrument vacuum system operates at low pressure and hot or cold cathode ionization gauges are typically used. For systems where it’s not critically important to measure vacuum in the UHV regime the wide range MEMS SmartPirani™ transducer can be utilized to determine the safe pressure to turn on the X-ray source and operating the instrument. 

Compared to Cold cathode ionization gauges or Hot cathode ionization gauges the MEMS SmartPirani™ transducer from Sens4 has several advantages such as:

• It doesn’t generate ions
• No internal or external magnetic field
• Occupies less space due to its compact design
• Low power consumption
• No heat generation
• Lower cost
• No deterioration of filaments – long time between maintenance

The VPM-5 SmartPirani™ offers a measuring range down to 1E-6 mbar (7.5E-7 Torr), that allows use for control of X-ray source. Furthermore, the VPM-7 SmartPirani™ ATM offers an additional atmospheric switch functionally that enables accurate control of vacuum system venting when loading samples from ambient pressure conditions to the vacuum systems.

Get in touch with our vacuum measurement specialists today for insights into our off-the-shelf and tailored vacuum measurement offerings, and how we can assist you in attaining the level of precision and control necessary for your X-ray diffraction instrument and application.