Energy
Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX)
EDX is an analytical
technique used for the elemental analysis of a material. In EDX a beam of
electrons bombards the top surface of the sample. If the incoming electron beam
is of sufficient energy it will cause inner shell electrons of the affected
atoms to become excited and thus ejected from its bond to the nucleus of the
atom. When this happens, an electron from an outer, higher energy, shell drops
down to take its place. That electron must release some of its energy in order
to fit into the inner, lower energy shell. That release of energy, in X-ray
form, is then collected, counted, and converted into weight or atomic
percentages. EPI Materials Testing Group uses our EDX in the elemental analysis
of many different materials in the daily process of running failure analyses
and the wide array of testing services that we perform from corrosion products
to identifying particles in filtrate.
