Modelling X-Ray Fluorescence from Galvanised Steel

Abstract

The aim of this research is to model the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) from galvanized steel, i.e., zinc thin film on iron substrate. To achieve this aim, the incident polychromatic X-ray beam from molybdenum anode was modelled by following the trends of an X-ray beam from laboratory data presented by the supervisor. The range of energies of the polychromatic X-ray beam is 1-35 KeV. Modelling XRF from zinc, iron, and galvanized steel was done by applying Peer-Lambert law to calculate the attenuation of the beam that may generate XRF from the material. All modelling work was done in Microsoft Excel and using the attenuation coefficients from NIST website. By comparison with the laboratory data done by the supervisor, the model suggests that zinc thickness from the laboratory data of XRF from galvanized steel is 1.95 micrometres.