What is X-ray fluorescence?

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a material. It works by irradiating a sample with high-energy X-rays, which causes the atoms in the sample to emit characteristic fluorescent X-rays. By analyzing the energy and intensity of these emitted X-rays, the types and amounts of elements present in the sample can be determined. XRF is commonly used in various fields, including environmental monitoring, geology, materials science, archaeology, and industrial quality control, for analyzing a wide range of materials such as rocks, soils, metals, polymers, and liquids.