Rigaku Release 6th Generation MiniFlex Benchtop XRD

X-ray scientific, analytical and industrial instrumentation manufacturer Rigaku Corporation has announced the new 6th generation Rigaku MiniFlex benchtop XRD (X-ray diffraction) instrument.

The new MiniFlex X-ray diffractometer is a multipurpose analytical instrument that can determine:

• Phase identification and quantification
• Percent (%) crystallinity
• Crystallite size and strain
• Lattice parameter refinement
• Rietveld refinement
• Molecular structure

It is widely used in research field especially in material science  and chemistry and also in industry for research and quality control. It is the newest addition to MiniFlex series of benchtop X-ray diffraction analysers from Rigaku, which began with the introduction of the original MiniFlex system decades ago.

Rigaku MiniFlex is historically significant in that it was the first commercial benchtop (tabletop) X-ray diffraction (XRD) instrument. When introduced in 1973, the original Miniflex was about one-tenth the size, and dramatically less expensive, than conventional X-ray diffraction equipment of the period. The original instrument (Gen 1), and its successor that was introduced in 1976 (Gen 2), employed a horizontal goniometer with data output provided by an internal strip chart recorder. The third generation (Gen 3) instrument, introduced in 1995, was called Miniflex+. It provided a dramatic advance in X-ray power to 450 watts (by operating at 30kV and 15mA) and Windows® PC computer control. Both the Miniflex+ and the succeeding generation products employ a vertical goniometer and allow the use of an automatic sample changer. Fourth generation (Gen 4) Miniflex II was introduced in 2006 and offered the advance of a monochromatic X-ray source and D/teX Ultra 1D silicon strip detector. Fifth generation (Gen5) MiniFlex600 system, introduced in 2012, built upon this legacy with 600W of available power and new PDXL powder diffraction software.

The new MiniFlex system delivers speed and sensitivity through innovative technology advances, including the Hypix- 400 2D hybrid pixel array detector (HPAD) together with an available 600W X-ray source and new 8-position automatic sample changer. This new direct photon counting detector enables high speed, low noise data collection and may be operated in 0D and 1D modes for conventional XRD analysis and 2D mode for samples with coarse grain size and/or preferred orientation.

A variety of X-ray tube anodes – along with range of sample rotation and positioning accessories together with a variety of temperature attachments – are offered to ensure that the MiniFlex system is versatile enough to perform challenging qualitative and quantitative analysis of a broad range of samples, whether performing research or routine quality control. The new (Gen6) MiniFlex embodies Rigaku’s philosophy of “Leading with Innovation” by offering the world’s most advanced benchtop XRD.

Posted June 1, 2017