| | | Introduction and Overview Metal alloy material verification for Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) has never been more important for safety. From primary metal production, to the metal service center, to component fabrication, to inal product assembly, the potential for material mix-ups and the need for traceability are a constant concern at every step. Material veriication prior to fabrication or shipping of metal alloy products is critical to ensure that the correct material is sent to the customer and that it is used for the right application. The use of wrong or out-of-specification metal alloys can lead to premature and potentially catastrophic part failures that can be very expensive, damage a business's reputation, and result in loss of life. Alloy verification using portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) has become the method of choice for achieving this assurance and peace of mind. Before Total Quality Management (TQM ) and Six Sigma methodology raised awareness of the need for better quality control practices, many QC departments relied on less sophisticated and less rigorous inspection methods, or relied solely upon material test reports (MTRs) supplied with their alloy components. The current emphasis on ISO certifications and 100% quality testing, along with the increased regulatory environment, demands total attention to inding and correcting any and all material discrepancies. As alloy testing instruments have become less expensive, easier to use, faster, more accurate and precise, the practice of total reliance on a questionable MTR paper trail is no longer tolerated by many quality managers. When one shipment of mis-marked material or a single wrong fabricated component can mean millions of dollars in returned shipments, lost business, extensive rework, and potential legal ramiications, these quality managers insist on 100% veriication of both raw material and inished product. | | Modern Technology Today's QA/QC inspectors and manufacturing engineers have access to powerful testing tools that eliminate reliance on dubious paperwork in favor of empirical test results conducted in their facilities. Thanks to huge advancements in handheld XRF technology pioneered by NITON, now part of Thermo Fisher Scientiic, quality control and inspection personnel can test thousands of metal alloy samples per day accurately and nondestructively. In fact, even junior inspectors are capable of turning out large amounts of quality testing data with the highest conidence in the integrity of the results. Point-and-shoot testing has become a reality with Thermo Scientific NITON XL3 800 Series X ray fluorescence analyzers. Typical testing times are 1 to 2 seconds to identify and show the alloy grade on the VIP™ tilting color touch-screen display, with lab-quality chemical analysis requiring a few seconds longer to obtain more precise results. Little or no sample preparation is needed for alloy samples with relatively clean surfaces, regardless of shape or size. From a single strand of 1 mm wire to inished weld beads, to rods, bolts, plates, and complete fabricated assemblies - all can be tested by just touching the professional analyzer to the sample and initiating measurement with a brief trigger pull. | | |