X-ray Diffraction
Crystal structure determination and phase identification through X-ray diffraction patterns.
O que é DRX
Uma técnica de análise avançada
Crystal structure determination and phase identification through X-ray diffraction patterns.
What sets us apart
We don't hand over a spectrum. We hand over the interpretation.
Any lab can return peaks and numbers. Our report reads the data. Three differences define what we deliver — illustrated below with a real, anonymized case.
Multiple techniques, one integrated report
We don't hand back five loose reports. We cross-reference every technique's results into a single reading — each signal checked against the others — to reach an answer, not a pile of data.
- Contamination investigation — identifying and tracing the source of a foreign species.
- Performance degradation — explaining why a batch behaves outside expectations.
- New supplier validation — proving equivalence before switching.
3 LDPE batches · 4 techniques converge, NMR reveals the difference
In semicrystalline polymer systems, thermomechanical processing variables influence chain conformational dynamics¹. Solid-state NMR resolves chemical environments at the nanometer scale², sensitive to changes not detectable by XRD or FTIR³.
Technical justification anchored in the literature
Every technique choice and every inference in the report is backed by peer-reviewed literature — with citations in the text. The conclusion isn't loose opinion: it's a traceable argument, defensible in an audit and in front of the client.
- Numbered citations linking claim to source
- Official standards and methods referenced per analyte
- Auditable reasoning end to end
Conclusion and expert opinion
The report closes with a clear position, signed by the Principal Investigator: what the data shows, what can't yet be claimed, and the next step. It includes an honest caveat on the limits of inference — what separates a technical opinion from a guess.
- Explicit technical position, not just results
- Inference limits declared honestly
- Next-step recommendation signed by the P.I.
Four techniques confirmed equivalence; only the solid-state NMR revealed the subtle conformational change not distinguishable by conventional QC — a molecular signature consistent with the atypical filtration behavior.
Without the industrial line's parameters, no direct causal correlation can be established — a complementary step is recommended for elucidation.
Aplicações de mercado
Onde a DRX entrega resultados
Market Applications
Pharma
- Polymorphic form identification
- API crystallinity analysis
- Cocrystal characterization
- Pharmaceutical salt studies
- Hydrate and solvate analysis
Materials
- Crystal phase identification
- Preferred orientation analysis
- Ceramic material characterization
- Residual stress studies
- Crystallite size analysis
Cosmetics
- Crystalline pigment characterization
- Inorganic UV filter analysis
- Mineral identification
- Wax crystallinity studies
- Metallic nanoparticle characterization
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
What does X-ray diffraction (XRD) actually measure?
- XRD measures how X-rays diffract off the regularly spaced atomic planes of a crystalline material (following Bragg's law), producing a pattern of peaks at specific angles that acts as a unique fingerprint for each crystalline phase present in the sample.
Can XRD distinguish between different polymorphic forms of the same compound?
- Yes — this is one of XRD's primary uses in pharmaceutical development. Different polymorphs, salts, hydrates and solvates of the same chemical compound have distinct crystal lattices and therefore produce distinguishable diffraction patterns, even though their chemical composition is identical.
Does XRD work on amorphous materials?
- XRD is fundamentally a crystallinity-detecting technique — a fully amorphous material produces a broad, diffuse halo rather than sharp peaks, so XRD cannot identify a specific structure in amorphous material. It is, however, the standard method for quantifying the ratio of crystalline to amorphous content in a partially crystalline sample.
What sample form does XRD require?
- Powder XRD, the most common configuration, typically requires the sample as a fine, homogeneous powder loaded into a sample holder, though other configurations exist for thin films or bulk solid samples. Liquid or fully dissolved samples are not analyzed by conventional XRD, since diffraction requires ordered solid-state structure.
Can XRD determine the actual crystal structure (unit cell), not just identify a known phase?
- Yes — beyond matching a pattern to known reference phases, XRD data can be used for structure determination and refinement to establish a compound's unit cell parameters and atomic arrangement, though this is a more involved analysis than routine phase identification and quantification.
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