IXRF designs and builds microXRF, SEM-XRF, and process XRF systems for labs that need to see WHERE elements are located, not just how much is present. Flagship Atlas Apex platform — geoscience, critical minerals, semiconductors, batteries, materials science.
IXRF systems help research, industrial, and applied science laboratories perform non-destructive elemental analysis, XRF imaging, and microanalysis across a wide range of sample types. Most laboratories begin with Atlas Apex because it offers IXRF’s strongest combination of spatial resolution, sensitivity, automation, chamber flexibility, and software capability.
Tell us what you need to measure, and IXRF will help recommend the best Atlas Apex, Atlas Veritas, SEM-XRF, SEM/EDS, or process XRF configuration for your lab.
IXRF systems are used across research, industrial, and applied science laboratories where elemental location, concentration, and material context matter.
When laboratories compare microXRF systems, the differences matter. Geometry, detector area, software, automation, chamber size, elemental range, and support all affect the quality and usability of the data.
Resolve fine features that conventional XRF can miss. Atlas Apex offers focused X-ray spot sizes down to 5 µm for mapping grain boundaries, inclusions, mineral zoning, reaction fronts, coatings, and other micron-scale features.
Analyze a broad elemental range with one platform. Atlas Apex supports detection from carbon through uranium, enabling light-element analysis and heavier-element mapping across geological, industrial, research, and advanced-material samples.
Atlas Apex systems are designed, built, tested, and supported by IXRF Systems in Austin, Texas. Direct access to our applications, engineering, and service teams helps simplify installation, training, troubleshooting, and long-term support.
From instrument control to mapping and quantitative analysis, Iridium Ultra brings acquisition, visualization, and data processing into a single software environment. Flexible workflows help users move efficiently from sample setup to interpretable results.
Go beyond elemental maps with automated point-by-point spectral analysis. Atlas Apex can collect spectra from defined locations across a sample, helping users compare features, characterize regions of interest, and build more detailed compositional datasets with less manual intervention.
IXRF systems are used by research and industrial laboratories working on real analytical problems—not just standard samples.
Researchers use microXRF to expand the analytical toolkit for microplastic detection in environmental samples. Atlas Apex microXRF mapping helps reveal spatial structure in volcanic and planetary materials. Aerospace and advanced manufacturing teams use microXRF for non-destructive verification of alloys, coatings, additive-manufactured parts, and engineered materials.
IXRF also publishes decision-support resources comparing microXRF with LIBS for critical minerals and microXRF with SEM-EDS for geology. These resources help laboratories choose the right method for the right analytical question.
Tell us what you need to measure, what sample types you work with, and what level of spatial resolution, sensitivity, throughput, or sample size your lab requires. IXRF will help recommend the right Atlas Apex, Atlas Veritas, SEM-XRF, SEM/EDS, or process XRF configuration for your workflow.
IXRF Systems develops X-ray microanalysis instrumentation and software for elemental analysis and mapping. Our solutions include microXRF, MacroXRF, SEM-EDS, specialized industrial XRF systems, detectors, and analytical software for research and industrial applications.
MicroXRF is a non-destructive elemental analysis technique that uses a focused X-ray beam to determine where elements are located within a sample. It is used for elemental mapping, quantitative analysis, materials characterization, contamination analysis, and investigation of chemically complex or heterogeneous materials.
Conventional XRF typically measures the average composition of a relatively large sample area. MicroXRF uses a much smaller X-ray beam to provide spatially resolved elemental maps, revealing localized features, phases, inclusions, gradients, and compositional variations that bulk measurements can miss.
SEM-EDS generally provides higher spatial resolution for microscopic features, while microXRF can analyze larger samples and mapping areas with greater X-ray penetration and minimal sample preparation. MicroXRF also provides strong sensitivity for many trace and higher-energy elements, making the techniques highly complementary.
Depending on detector configuration and analytical conditions, IXRF microXRF systems can detect elements from light elements such as carbon or fluorine through uranium. The optimum configuration depends on the elements, concentrations, sample matrix, and application.
IXRF systems analyze materials ranging from rocks, drill core, metals, batteries, semiconductors, electronics, ceramics, concrete, coatings, powders, and particles to cultural heritage objects and industrial components. Many samples can be analyzed intact with little or no preparation.
The right system depends on your sample size, spatial-resolution requirements, throughput, and analytical goals. Atlas Apex M provides high-performance chamber-based microXRF, Atlas Apex X accommodates larger or irregular samples, Atlas Veritas provides higher-throughput MacroXRF analysis, ProSA is designed for at-line steel analysis, and SEM-EDS provides elemental microanalysis within an electron microscope.
IXRF technologies are used across geology and mining, critical minerals, metals, batteries, semiconductors and microelectronics, materials science, concrete and construction materials, environmental research, cultural heritage, manufacturing, and quality control. Applications range from fundamental research to process development and industrial problem-solving.
