Description
Long Life Shield Plate AT5004
P/N: AT5004
Cross Reference(s)
Glass Expansion: AT5004
G1833-65419
Instrument Compatibility:
Agilent 7500/7700/7800/7900/8800/8900
Detail:
Long Life Shield Plate
In the context of Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) analysis, a “long life shield plate” refers to a specialized component within the ICP torch system, usually made of platinum, designed to protect the surrounding components from the intense heat of the plasma while providing a long lifespan compared to standard shield plates, allowing for extended use in demanding analytical applications; it’s often part of a “Shield Torch System” that helps maintain stable plasma conditions and achieve optimal sensitivity in ICP-MS analysis.
Key points about long-life shield plates:
Function:
They act as a heat barrier. In doing so, they prevent the plasma from directly contacting and damaging other parts of the torch.
Material:
Platinum is the material of preference due to its high resistance to heat and corrosion.
Benefits:
- Extended lifespan compared to standard shield plates
- Improved stability of the plasma
- Can enable “cool plasma mode” for better detection limits in trace element analysis
- Extended lifespan compared to standard shield plates
Purpose and Function
A long-life shield plate in ICP systems serves several critical functions:
1. Ion Energy Control: It helps control the ion energy, ensuring high sensitivity and effective interference removal, especially in helium mode.
2. Capacitive Coupling Reduction: The shield plate removes the capacitive coupling of the coil to the plasma, ensuring that the plasma is at ground potential. This eliminates secondary discharge inside the interface where ionization of plasma-based polyatomic species occurs.
3. Cool Plasma Mode: It enables the cool plasma mode, which is essential for achieving the lowest backgrounds necessary for ultra-trace determination of elements like potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe).
Materials
Long-life shield plates are typically made from platinum (Pt) due to their durability and effectiveness in high-temperature environments. Quartz bonnets are also used in conjunction with these shield plates to enhance their performance.
Benefits
The benefits of using a long-life shield plate in ICP systems include:
- Enhanced Sensitivity: By controlling ion energy and reducing interference, the shield plate enhances the sensitivity of the ICP-MS (Mass Spectrometry) system.
- Improved Stability: The use of high-quality materials like platinum ensures long-term stability and durability of the shield plate.
- Lower Backgrounds: Enabling cool plasma mode helps achieve lower background levels, which is crucial for accurate ultra-trace element analysis.
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