The RDI service dedicated to X-ray diffraction analysis offers the advanced characterisation of crystalline structure and phase composition for solid and powdered materials. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD), the service makes it possible to identify and analyse the crystalline and amorphous phases in a wide range of materials, including rocks, minerals, industrial products, ceramics, metals and alloys, construction materials and archaeological artefacts.
The service supports the investigation of structural transformations, phase stability, mineralogical composition and material quality. The results obtained through XRD analysis provide essential information for understanding the internal structure of materials, optimising technological processes, improving product performance and supporting quality control activities. The method is particularly relevant both to industrial applications and scientific research and to studies on cultural heritage, which involve the analysis of ceramics, pigments, rocks and historical materials.
The potential beneficiaries include companies, research institutes, universities, quality control laboratories, museums, conservation centres, regulatory bodies and public institutions active in fields such as construction materials, metallurgy, the processing industry, the chemical and petrochemical industries, ceramics, advanced materials, mineral raw materials, fuels, geochemistry, chemical engineering, archaeology and heritage protection. By providing reliable structural and compositional data, the service contributes to improved product quality, greater process efficiency, certification activities and the scientifically grounded assessment of materials.
Delivering the service requires specialised equipment and resources, including an X-ray diffractometer, the ICDD PDF-5+ database, systems for XRD data acquisition and processing, holders for solid and powdered samples, certified crystalline standards for calibration and method validation, special zero-background holders and materials for sample preparation, such as a laboratory mill and a mortar. General laboratory consumables are also required, including spatulas, tweezers, weighing paper and sample containers, in order to ensure the proper handling and preparation of the materials analysed.