Clark Testing’s analytical laboratory provides X-Ray Diffraction or XRD analysis as a non-destructive test method to analyze the structure of crystalline materials. This technique provides the Crystalline Phase Identification, the compounds present in the material.

Reported as a Qualitative/Semi-Quantitative basis, this technique is essential to understanding the elemental makeup of the material. Particle Characterization testing is also a common addition for more knowledge of the material characteristics. X-rays are diffracted by the repeating lattice spacing of crystalline materials. Crystalline material information includes: material and Nano-scale structure, size, chemical composition, imperfections, atomic arrangement, phase composition, structure variations (solid solutions and polymorphs), crystallinity, non-crystalline periodicity and orientation.

XRD testing can analyze a variety of materials including solids, liquids and powders providing phase identification of minerals, metals, ceramics, polymers, electronic materials and more.

Crystalline Silica determinations are also performed via XRD. This technique is based on the NIOSH 7500 method, with a reporting limit as low as 0.1 %. Testing materials for Crystalline Silica has become more common due to the implementation of the new OSHA standard. The analysis quantifies α-Quartz, Cristobalite, and Tridymite independently.