IMPROVED MICRODROPLET METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE X-RAY-MICROANALYSIS OF SMALL FLUID SAMPLES

Current microdroplet techniques for very small volumes of fluid tend t o be cumbersome and obtaining sufficiently thin droplets with small cr ystals is difficult. Several alterations to existing microdroplet tech niques were tested. Addition of a macro-molecular solute (PVP) facilit ated production of thin droplets and reduced crystal size by a very si mple method involving slow drying under liquid paraffin oil. Introduct ion of a different reference element (rubidium) also caused a reductio n in crystal size. The new method was compared with existing methods.