Laboratory dies - KBr and XRF

The 3 mm to 16 mm laboratory dies are used in IR spectroscopy. The sample to be analysed is ground and mixed with KBr powder. The mixture is transferred into the die and compressed into disc form using a laboratory press. Any air remaining in the sample is removed using a vacuum pump attached to the die's integrated connector. As KBr is transparent and has no absorption bands in a wide spectral range, only the spectrum of the sample will be recorded. Information on KBr and how to process it for this application are shown in the data sheet attached to the relevant dies.

The 20 mm to 45 mm laboratory dies are used for XRF spectroscopy. The compression via a laboratory press is identical with the KBr method, but the preparation of the sample for making the disc - so called briquetting - varies according to the sample material. For this reason, the data sheet for these die sizes does not include any information on sample preparation.

Alternative applications: even though the dies are called KBr and XRF, of course they can be used for other applications requiring the production of a briquette from a sample in powder form under pressure. Examples of customer applications are: dishwasher tablets, graphite pellets, soap and feedstuff pellets.

Pressure pellet material: The dies shown in Lab-Club have pressure pellets made of SS440C steel which has a chromium content of 18% and a hardness of about 60 Rockwell. For extremely abrasive or aggressive samples such as ceramics or oxides, we also offer pellets made of tungsten carbide. They contain 5% cobalt and are about 10 times harder than the standard products. Please contact us for pricing and delivery information.