Alkaline Fusion for Bead and
Solution Preparation
Alkaline fusion is an analytical procedure that allows for the rapid and effective dissolution of oxide samples to produce glass beads or solutions for subsequent elemental analysis via X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) or Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) techniques, respectively.
The use of alkaline fluxes, including lithium and sodium borates, has enabled the widespread development of this analytical procedure. Their low melting points and high capacity to dissolve oxides, carbonates, sulfates, etc., make them ideal for a wide range of applications—from minerals and silicates to metallic oxides, cement, and ferroalloys.
Lithium borate-based fluxes are the most widely used due to their low fusion point, high fluidity, low platinum adhesion, and ability to form stable glass beads.
Lithium borates comprise a family of fluxes whose alkalinity—and thus their affinity for various oxides—can be adjusted by varying the proportions of pure fluxes such as Lithium Tetraborate and Lithium Metaborate, adapting their properties to the user’s specific analytical needs.
At Equilab, we offer the widest range of standard and custom-made flux mixtures, with or without additives, to meet all your analytical requirements.
Fluxes without additives (2kg bottle):
TL-100 – Pure Lithium Tetraborate
ML-100 – Pure Lithium Metaborate
TML-6634 – 66% Lithium Tetraborate + 34% Lithium Metaborate
TML-5050 – 50% Lithium Tetraborate + 50% Lithium Metaborate
TML-3466 – 34% Lithium Tetraborate + 66% Lithium Metaborate
Fluxes with Lithium Bromide (a a releasing agent) (2kg bottle):
TL-100-5 – 99.5% Lithium Tetraborate + 0.5% Lithium Bromide
ML-100-5 – 99.5% Lithium Metaborate + 0.5% Lithium Bromide
TML-6634-5 – 66% Lithium Tetraborate + 34% Lithium Metaborate + 0.5% Lithium Bromide
TML-5050-5 – 50% Lithium Tetraborate + 50% Lithium Metaborate + 0.5% Lithium Bromide
TML-3466-5 – 34% Lithium Tetraborate + 66% Lithium Metaborate + 0.5% Lithium Bromide
We also prepare flux mixtures with the following releasing agents:
- Potassium Bromide
- Lithium Iodide
- Sodium Iodide
- Lithium Fluoride
- Lithium Nitrate
- Sodium Nitrate
Custom formulations available upon request