Platinum Alloy Tip for ICP-MS Interface Cone Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing cost of rhodium has made the platinum tip used in Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) interface cones economically unsustainable without compromising performance or durability, necessitating a cheaper alternative with similar properties.
Innovation Solution
Development of a platinum alloy with additional elements such as iridium, gold, ruthenium, or tungsten, where platinum constitutes a major weight percentage, and the inclusion of a multilayer coating for enhanced durability and protection against high temperatures and corrosive acids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a platinum tip with 10 wt. % rhodium is used to ensure performance and durability in corrosive acids at high temperatures, then reliability is improved, but cost increases due to rising rhodium prices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the platinum alloy by reducing rhodium content from 10 wt. % to less than 5 wt. %, and alternatively introduces iridium as a substitute alloying element. This parameter modification maintains the alloy's corrosion resistance and high-temperature durability while reducing material cost associated with expensive rhodium
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops composite platinum-based alloys combining platinum with alternative elements such as iridium, gold, ruthenium, or rhodium in optimized proportions. These composite materials achieve the desired balance between reliability (corrosion resistance at 1000°C) and cost-effectiveness by replacing expensive rhodium with more economical alloying elements
2Reliability
If the platinum tip size is increased to improve durability, then reliability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the size and geometric parameters of the platinum tip while adjusting the alloy composition to achieve enhanced durability. By modifying the alloy's inherent resistance properties through composition rather than simply increasing size, the solution maintains durability without proportionally increasing material cost
3Reliability
If a multilayer coating is applied to enhance protection against corrosive acids and high temperatures, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multilayer coatings comprising different material layers, each designed to provide specific protective functions against corrosive acids and high-temperature environments. This composite coating structure enhances reliability by addressing multiple degradation mechanisms simultaneously, while the layered design allows for optimized thickness and material selection for each functional requirement
Data Source
AI summary
A tip including an alloy of platinum and an alloying element chosen from gold, palladium, ruthenium, osmium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, chromium, manganese, titanium, niobium, scandium, vanadium, yttrium, zirconium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, technetium, cadmium, hafnium, rhenium, less than 5 wt. % of iridium, less than 5 wt. % of rhodium, greater than 20 wt. % iridium, greater than 20 wt. % rhodium, and a combination thereof, relative to the total weight of the alloy is disclosed. An interface cone can include a base and the tip.