Cover to provide an inert atmosphere for XRD sample changers

A cover for Scintagʹs six and twelve-position sample changers was designed and constructed to rovide an inert atmosphere for samples during diffraction batch runs. The cover is equipped with nlet and outlet gas ports and fits over the top of the sample changer. Using dry nitrogen gas fed into he inlet of the cover, a sample of lithium bromide was protected from atmospheric moisture for reater than 18 h. The cover uses a thin Mylar window that gives greater than 95% transparency for opper Kalpha X-rays. The cover is a simple device that allows our lab to run multiple moisture-sensitive samples in a batch mode. The simple approach and materials used in the onstruction of the cover could be applied to other brands of powder diffractometers.