Improved bench-top X-ray diffractometer for crystalline phase analysis of cement

A laboratory-scale X-ray diffractometer for obtaining high X-ray intensity data was developed. The apparatus, equipped with 600 W CuKα radiation with a Ni filter, incorporates technology that dramatically improves the quality of X-ray diffraction. The system comprises of a low-noise one-dimensional silicon strip detector, a variable slit, and a goniometer with a radius as small as 150 mm. A variable knife edge was used as a countermeasure for unwanted scattering, particularly in the low angle range. With this system, cement may be analyzed within 5 min. NIST 2686 standard reference material was analyzed using the newly developed diffractometer, and the quantitative analysis results for the major phases are in agreement with the certified values of the reference material.