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Material Testing

Microhardness

Material Analysis

Coating Thickness

On August 14, 2008 President Bush signed into law the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) oversees the changes that CPSIA will have on the market place. Beginning in February 2009, hazardous substances such as lead will be required to have a limit of 600 parts per million total lead content by weight for any part of the product. Beginning in August 2009, the lead limit will be 300 parts per million total lead content by weight for any part of the product. Beginning in August 2011, the level will be 100 parts per million unless the CPSC determines that a limit of 100 parts per million is not technologically feasible for a product or product category. Furthermore, CPSIA refers to Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety (ASTM F963). This standard also limits the amounts of antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium in surface coating materials. The ability to determine all limits for these and other hazardous substances can be accomplished with Fischer X-ray fluorescence instruments.

The test method identified in CPSIA is X-ray fluorescence. For obvious reasons it is important that the test method be non-destructive and quick. Therefore, X-ray fluorescence instruments manufactured by Fischer Technology are ideally suited for the measurement challenges associated with CPSIA. In addition to being non-destructive, Fischer X-ray fluorescence instruments require no sample preparation. Likewise, users of Fischer X-ray fluorescence instruments are able to operate the units without any previous knowledge or lengthy training. Measurement applications start at the push of a button. Programmable stages provide the operator with the ability to test multiple parts at a time. High resolution optics integrated into a video camera also make it possible to position and analyze very small sample features less than 1 mm. The ability to measure on small spot sizes is especially important when it comes to toys, children's jewelry, and related parts.

X-ray fluorescence is identified as a test method in the CPSIA because the limit values stated can be determined very quickly and accurately. As previously mentioned, Fischer X-ray fluorescence instruments are also capable of measuring other hazardous substances such as antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium. A measurement provides direct results of the concentrations of the banned substances. Fischer has developed a pass/fail analysis based on the parts per million limit criteria.

Fischer Technology is a leading innovator of coating thickness, material testing, and material analysis instrumentation. In addition to X-ray fluorescence, Fischer Technology manufactures instruments using magnetic induction, eddy current, phase-sensitive eddy current, beta backscatter, and coulometric test methods. Fischer also manufactures instruments to measure micro hardness, conductivity, ferrite content, and porosity. For additional information contact Fischer Technology at 860-683-0781, email via info@fischer-technology.com or visit online at www.fischer-technology.com.