12 - 14^th April 2011
University of Keele.

XRF Programme.

Link to BCA Meeting page for more meeting details, registration and to print a CAR PARK PERMIT.
NEW! Download an updated printable copy of the 3 day XRF programme(102Kb)

There is a comprehensive XRF programme over the three days including workshop day (see PDF workshop flyer) and we encourage submission of dedicated XRF posters at this meeting.

Dave Taylor is the XRF representative on the planning committee. E-mail link at foot of page.

There will be a Commercial Exhibition ( floor plan ) and XRF vendors are encouraged to attend and give an Exhibitor talk.

2011 Spring Meeting XRF Overview

XRF Session Details

Tuesday 12^th April 2011 - TRAINING DAY

Tick the "XRF Workshop" box on the registration form to ensure a place and get a CPD certificate.

Morning: Register at the desk in the Chancellor Building Exhibition Area and then wait in Lecture theatre 4 to be escorted at 10:50 to the laboratory session.
11:00 - 12:30 XRF: Workshop - Sample preparation (LJ1.60 in the Lennard Jones Building)
Margaret West is organiser and chair.

This Masterclass is designed to offer practical advice on the ever expanding range of techniques available to prepare samples for analysis in the laboratory and in the field.

Delegates are invited to submit requests to margaretwest@blueyonder.co.uk for hints and tips to get the best from their samples and this Masterclass.

This first session will be held in Laboratory LJ1.60 in the Lennard Jones Building and is devoted to fusion techniques including

• calibration beads from CRMs and pure chemicals
• routine samples
• samples requiring special care
• fluxes and additives
• care of platinum ware
• practical lab demonstrations

12:30 Lunch

Afternoon:
13:30 - 15:00 XRF: Workshop - Sample preparation (cont). Lecture theatre 4 in the Chancellors Building

This second session will concentrate on grinding and pressing powders, handling liquids and gels and dealing with those "unknowns" that sometimes demand attention.

15:00 Tea

15:30 - 17:00 Calibration.
Ros Schwarz is organiser and chair.

The Calibration Masterclass will focus on common problems in the selection of line and background positions. Some of the topics to be considered include:
When and why is it difficult to calibrate XRF?

• Matrix mass absorption
• Lack of standards
• Line overlaps
• Background overlaps
• Range
• Majors, Minors, Trace
• Line and background selection
• Resolution
• Why do you need a background?
• Background correction

Contact the session chair (r.schwarz@sheffield.ac.uk) with details of your calibration if you would like it discussed during the Masterclass.

17:15 -18:45 XRF Exhibitors' Forum Lecture Theatre 2
Dave Taylor is organiser and chair.

Exhibitors will be allowed to give commercial talks aimed at encouraging delegates to visit their exhibition stand for further information. Exhibitors will be required to register in advance to give a presentation and the available time of 90 minutes will be divided equally to fit in all the talks.

Evening: Posters and Exhibition with buffet and wine.

Wednesday 13^th April 2011

Morning:
09:00 - 09:45 IG Plenary - Computational Studies of Biomaterials. Prof. Nora De Leeuw, UCL.

10:15 - 11:45 New Developments
Ros Schwarz is chair.

    10:15 Using low cost CMOS sensors for X-ray imaging and spectroscopy. abstract...
    David Lane Cranfield University
    10:45 Bright spatially coherent synchrotron X-rays from a table-top source. abstract...
    Stefan Kneip Imperial College London
    11:15 Enhancing the light element performance of EDXRF by using a new Silicon Drift Detector with high transmission window. abstract...
    Mike Dobby, Bruker

11:45 - 12:30 XRF/XRD Applications
Guest chair.
    11:45 Characterisation of the phosphate surfactant in a latex using XRF and other techniques. abstract...
    David Beveridge, HARMAN technology Ltd.
    12:10 Environmental Applications for a new Benchtop XRD/XRF Instrument. abstract...
    Leah Cliff, Southampton University

12:30 Industrial Group AGM

Afternoon
13:30 - 15:00 Applications.
David Beveridge is organiser and chair.

    13:30 Applications of High Power XRF in Geochemical and Environmental Laboratories. abstract...
    Christopher Shaffer, Thermo Fisher Scientific
    14:00 New Test Methods for WDXF: Trace elements in Burner Fuels. abstract...
    Phil Russell, PANalytical
    14:30 The Balancing Act Between Versatility and Analytical Performance when Using ED XRF Instrumentation. abstract...
    Dirk Wissmann, SPECTRO Analytical Instruments GmbH

15:00 Tea

15:30 - 17:00 Applications continued.
David Beveridge is organiser and chair.

    15:30 Novel applications of XRF for mapping metals in industry, health, and the environment. abstract...
    David Bellis, *
    16:00 X-ray fluorescence analysis of rocks by fusion method using a benchtop WD-XRF abstract...
    Paul Vanden Branden, Scientific and Medical for Rigaku
    16:30 30 (not quite) Random musings on small samples, accuracy and fitness for purpose.
    Nick Marsh, University of Leicester

17:00 Break

18:00 BCA AGM.

Evening: Conference Dinner.

Thursday 14^th April 2011

Morning
09:00 - 09:45 XRF Plenary Lecture
"Novel Techniques" - "It began with a helping hand." abstract...
Margaret West, West X-ray Solutions Ltd.

09:45 Coffee

10:15 - 11:45 Novel Techniques.
Dave Taylor is organiser and chair.

    10:15 XRF analysis of neurodegenerative brain tissue using synchrotron radiation. abstract...
    Joanna Collingwood, Warwick University.
    10:45 ISO 17025 accreditation for fused bead methods. abstract...
    Rainer Schramm, FLUXANA GmbH
    11:15 Challenges in the Characterisation of Amorphous Metal Phosphates and Fluorophosphates. abstract...
    Adrian J Wright, Birmingham University.

12:00 - 13:30 Cultural Heritage.
Joint Session XRF/PCG.
Co-chairs: Dave Taylor - IG & Winfried Kockelmann - PCG
This is a joint session of XRF and the Physical Crystallography Group covering applications of interest to a diverse audience related to cultural heritage.

    12:00 A comparison of WDXRF and neutron diffraction analysis techniques for the study of ancient silver coins from the Hallaton Treasure. abstract...
    Julia Farley, Leicester University (presented by Winfried Kockelmann)
    12:30 The Cu₆Sn₅ phase 'problem' of tinned archaeological bronzes. abstract...
    Panagiota Manti, Cardiff University.
    13:00 A host of golden angels - Coin making in Tudor times explored by XRF and neutron diffraction. abstract...
    Andy Smith, Daresbury Laboratory

13:30 Closing Remarks.

* = currently unaffiliated