Commercial Sources for Standards

[Probeman]

Here is an outfit just a few hours down the freeway from me. Haven't been to their facility but I ordered a very nice lump of vacuum remelted osmium that was very important for one measurement we did recently.

http://www.espimetals.com/index.php

ESPI  Metals
1050 Benson Way
Ashland, Oregon 97520

541.488.8311 telephone
800.638.2581 toll-free

541.488.8313 fax
800.488.0060 toll-free fax

sales@espimetals.com

[John Donovan]

Marc Schrier (http://calchemist.com) says:
"I just did a quick search, and it kinda looks like crystals can be purchased from China.  If they really make ‘em, they will be way way way cheaper that I can pull off, and they may be able to provide such large quantities too.  Check out:

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/RTP-Rubidium-Titanyl-Phosphate-RbTiOPO4_1676370731.html

They are making them for laser optics, so they may have a ton of scraps that would be perfect for you (ex. 1 mm chunks)."

Worth checking out.
john

[Probeman]

RbTiOPO4 is available from Astimex Standards:

Astimex Standards Ltd
72 Milicent Street
Toronto, Ontario M6H 1W4
Canada
Email:  standards@astimex.com

Their website http://astimex.com/ does not appear to list it, but they do have it in stock.  A couple of “loosies” cost $150 US – 15% for academic institutions.

Best regards, Mati

[Mike Matthews]

Can anyone point me towards a commercial source for decent sized bits of Fe2O3?

[Probeman]

Can anyone point me towards a commercial source for decent sized bits of Fe2O3?

He's not a commercial source, but I would contact George Rossman at Cal Tech.  He has an assortment of synthetic single crystals.
john

[Anette von der Handt]

Hi Mike,

I cannot speak to their prices and quality in the most cases (which is why we are building the FIGMAS database!) but here are some sources:

Astimex has Fe2O3 as a loose standard. pdf of their "loosies" catalogue attached, I got this document from someone and cannot say if it is up to date.

John Hanchar produced a synthetic Fe2O3 reference material (lists of his products also attached, you might enjoy his other wares too). List is attached. Definitely have a look.

EMS also lists Fe2O3 loose grain: http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/standards/compound.aspx

If you need a lot of material (and have money in this case), Andrew Locock had good experience with MTI and recommended them to me. They may also have smaller scraps that are not listed
http://www.mtixtl.com/search.aspx?find=fe2O3%2c

In the UK, P&H lists a natural Fe2O3
http://www.pandhdevelopments.com/customer%20specified.htm

Geller has one too
http://www.gellermicro.com/standards/std-list_new%20160616.pdf

SPI is offering the hematite from the Taylor collection
http://www.2spi.com/catalog/standards/aweb/minerals/as118.html

Ted Pella
http://www.tedpella.com/calibration_html/UHV-EL_Reference_Standards_for_EDS_WDS.htm

Tousimis
http://www.tousimis.com/reference_standards/material.html

Hope this helps.

[Mike Matthews]

Thanks Anette,

I missed it in the P&H catalogue - probably because I was looking for Hematite, I've not seen it called Specularite before.

[Anette von der Handt]

Yes, the name threw me for a moment too. When I looked it up, the internet gives me also this awesome info (http://www.crystalsandgemstones.com/store/crystals-p-z/specularite/):

Interesting Facts: Specularite has a higher vibration than hematite.
Other Properties: combats electromagnetic pollution
Spiritual Properties:  activates a universal grounding that unites the spiritual energies with our every day functional presence on earth.

Seems like an excellent addition to your standard collection 

[John Donovan]

Yes, the name threw me for a moment too. When I looked it up, the internet gives me also this awesome info (http://www.crystalsandgemstones.com/store/crystals-p-z/specularite/):

Interesting Facts: Specularite has a higher vibration than hematite.
Other Properties: combats electromagnetic pollution
Spiritual Properties:  activates a universal grounding that unites the spiritual energies with our every day functional presence on earth.

Seems like an excellent addition to your standard collection 

I wonder what the metaphysical properties of RbTiOPO4 are? 
john

[Mike Matthews]

I'm glad to hear about the universal grounding, I want to use it as an uncoated Oxygen reference material. I'm a bit concerned that none of the available correction methods include electromagnetic pollution or increased vibrations though

[Anette von der Handt]

Just post it to the PFE wishlist....

On a more serious note, a number of Harvard materials, including Hematite were characterized specifically for oxygen measurements by EPMA. You can obtain the material commercially from the International Association of GeoAnalysts, another UK based provider:
http://www.iageo.com/index.php/zircon91500-microanalytical-reference-materials.html