Electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) SKAPHIA

Shielded Electron Probe MicroAnalyzer for Radioactive Samples SKAPHIA provides a safe environment for manipulating and analyzing nuclear samples together with benchmark analytical performance allowing scientists to gain a deeper understanding of fuel performance, to explore irradiated material behavior and radiation damage processes, to develop innovative alloys and structural materials, to optimize the nuclear fuel cycle and to achieve better nuclear waste management... Derived from CAMECA state-of-the-art EPMA instruments, SKAPHIA can analyze almost all elements of the periodic table, revealing compositional information for both major and trace elements of radioactive sample. The information is obtained from sub-micron areas with excellent precision and accuracy. It is designed to accept samples emitting beta and gamma radiations with a maximum acceptable g radiation level of 111 GBq at an energy of 0.75 MeV. Fully customized environment and analytical equipment Column, spectrometers and sample stage are installed in a hot cell (lead or concrete shielded room). Remote-manipulators and/or ball manipulators are used to insert and mount the radioactive samples. The instrument is fully remote-controlled (stage, column, diaphragms...), with electronics and computer deported outside the “hot” cell environment. All WDS analyzers and detectors are shielded to prevent the background caused by the gamma radiations.