What Is Non-Destructive XRF Testing?

man using xrf gun on lead paint

Lead-based paint is found in many homes across Kansas City. But how do you know if you have lead-based paint in your home? The best way of finding it is to hire a company like Axiom Service Professionals to perform lead-based paint testing. We accomplish this using non-destructive XRF testing. But what exactly does that mean? Read on to learn more:

What Is XRF?

XRF stands for X-ray fluorescence. It is a non-destructive technique that determines the elemental composition of a material. When doing XRF testing, one uses an XRF gun, or analyzer, to perform measurements on an object. The gun harnesses the power of XRF by firing x-rays at the object. The x-rays cause the object to emit fluorescent x-rays, and each element in the object release a unique “fluorescent fingerprint.” These “fluorescent fingerprints” are read by the XRF gun and tells us what kinds of elements are in the object.

When Is XRF Testing Used?

XRF testing can be used for lead-based testing, as we mentioned above. However, it can also have various other uses as well. These include the following:

  • Identifying piping material
  • Metal fabrication
  • Inspection and quality control
  • Scrap metal recycling
  • Precious metal recycling
  • Mining and exploration
  • Risk assessment and remediation quality control

By using XRF testing for lead-based paint, we can determine the presence of lead-based paint in your home or business through non-destructive means. Contact Axiom Service Professionals today to learn more.