XRF Basics for Beginners
Your first step into portable X-ray fluorescence — principles, limits, and field readiness.
What you'll learn
- How XRF excites atoms and reads spectra
- Which elements portable XRF detects well
- Non-destructive testing advantages
- When to pair XRF with lab methods
Module outline
1. Physics in 5 minutes — tube, detector, spectrum
2. Sample prep — surface condition, geometry, measurement time
3. Reading results — concentrations vs Grade ID
4. Common mistakes — dirty surfaces, wrong mode, ignoring matrix effects
Next steps
Continue to *PMI Field Workflow* or explore the [Glossary](/en/glossary/xrf) for terminology.
Need real sample analysis?
After learning the basics, submit your thesis or course samples to the Specelex research team.
Submit analysis request →Knowledge Check
Test what you learned — score 70% or higher to pass.
Question 1 of 3
What does XRF stand for?
Question 2 of 3
Is portable XRF destructive to the sample?
Question 3 of 3