Watching atoms and electrons at work

03-Sep-2018 - The properties of materials are determined by their atomic structure. If atoms and electrons change their positions, then the characteristics of a material also change. The complex processes that occur during these changes are being investigated by a working group at Kiel University (CAU), using ...

Young start-up team develops new reference materials for direct microanalysis of solids

Setting new standards in solids analysis

14-Mar-2018 - How badly plants are affected by contaminated soil, what the sea floor can reveal about past climate, or what yield an ore mine could deliver in future - an analysis of the chemical composition of minerals and rocks can often provide valuable information. For accurate results, not only are ...

X-rays from copper source set new gold standard for measuring industrial materials

17-May-2017 - Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have produced and precisely measured a spectrum of X-rays using a new, state-of-the-art machine. The instrument they used to measure the X-rays took 20 years to develop, and will help scientists working at the agency make ...

How good is the measurement method?

Three more interlaboratory tests on safety of chemicals

29-Nov-2016 - The causes of accidents can be diverse, whether it is an explosion in a chemical plant or a fire on a dangerous goods freighter. Prevention starts in the laboratory where chemicals are tested for their hazardous properties. Safety experts, haulage contractors or traders must be able to rely on ...

Natural air standards support accurate greenhouse gas measurements

23-Feb-2016 - When it comes to tallying emissions of greenhouse gases, there is no better substitute than directly measuring the atmosphere. But this important accounting can be obscured, and even confused, if measurements of the air-borne heat-trapping chemicals are inaccurate or can't be compared from one ...

Singapore Launches Infrastructure for Metrology in Chemistry (MiC)

04-Nov-2010 - The National Metrology Centre (NMC) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) have jointly set up a national Metrology in Chemistry (MiC) infrastructure. Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education, Mr S. Iswaran ...

NIST nanofluidic 'multi-tool' separates and sizes nanoparticles

11-Aug-2010 - A wrench or a screwdriver of a single size is useful for some jobs, but for a more complicated project, you need a set of tools of different sizes. Following this guiding principle, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have engineered a nanoscale fluidic device ...

ULTRA Scientific offers the Gold Standard with ISO Guide 34 accreditation

Organic and inorganic standards distributed by LGC Standards give laboratories greater choice and quality

28-Jan-2010 - LGC Standards announced that ULTRA Scientific, one of its key suppliers, has gained ISO Guide 34 accreditation for the production of organic and inorganic certified reference materials (CRMs). ISO Guide 34 requires an extensive protocol for homogeneity, short term stability, long term stability, ...

New beryllium reference material for occupational safety monitoring

24-Sep-2009 - Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in collaboration with private industry and other government agencies, have produced a new reference material for beryllium. Beryllium, an exotic rare-earth metal used as a hardener in high-performance alloys and ceramics, ...

Newly improved NIST reference material targets infant formula analysis

28-Aug-2009 - Chemists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have issued a new certified reference material for determining the concentrations of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in infant and adult nutritional formula and similar products. The new Standard Reference Material (SRM ...