The new MMA (mini-materials analyser) X-Ray Diffractometeralthough compact in size, offers maximum capabilities to the end user. At a half of the cost of its nearest rival the MMA offers a full array of features such as “Interchangeable Parallel Beam and Focusing Geometry” with a variable radius. Multiple sample stages and full auto sampling are available for maximum flexibility.

This compact economical instrument offers a wide range of advantages over the more traditional XRD instruments for analysis of texture, thin film, residual stress and powder in parallel and focusing modes.

Because of its built in parallel beam geometry, the MMA offers greater intensity (up to 10 times greater) and thus greater particle statistics (up to 20 times greater) compared to traditional technologies.

The high quality polycapillary optic used in the parallel beam design allows for excellent performance at very low angles with sensitivities of up to 5 times better than traditional instruments. This means our MMA is able to perform high quality “Thin Film” analysis.

The parallel beam design also proves to be an ideal option when analysing powders since there is no focusing requirement when in the Parallel mode therefore rough and irregular surfaces can easily be analysed and accurate results obtained. The MMA can just as easily perform high resolution work when required. The powder stage has a tripod mount allowing for very precise height and radius adjustments.

In addition the MMA also has an “X-Ray Fluorescence detector”. This allows the operator to simultaneously and semi-quantitatively measure whatever elements may be present thus providing important additional information to aid in the identification of the substance being analysed.

The MMAs immense capabilities are further enhanced with the addition of the highly specialised “Slim-line Cradle” normally only found on more expensive equipment. The cradle can move up to 155 deg 2 Theta without loss of focus and retention of peak shape making it a powerful accessory for such specialized analyses as “Residual Stress”.

Of course any new technology nowadays is only as good as the software that drives it and our new 32 bit software is second to none in providing for ”multi-axis” powder scanning, collection of pole figures in formats to input to all modern “Texture Analysis Software” and screen processing of powder scans with facilities to match any package available.

New accessories are continually being developed to enhance the capabilities of the MMA.

Of course no hardware control system is complete without comprehensive control and data analysis software. Operating in the Microsoft windows environment are two 32 bit software packages; Visual XRD and Traces. Visual XRD provides control of hardware function of the 122D automation module and XRD system and enable the data acquisition. All scan modes and computer aided setup are available.

Traces is designed to work with real world data and offers a comprehensive data analysis system from background stripping to pattern generation to search/match capability. File formats are open-access compatible ASCII formats allowing interchangeability of data between alternate XRD data analysis software. Traces provides full integration with ICDD PDF-1,PDF-2 and PDF-4 databases.

A range of detector and monochromator options, texture automation upgrades and safety products are also available. Complementary software packages are available for integration with Traces. These are DSearch, Siroquant, Index and Unit Cell.