SBIR Phase II: Quantitative Analysis for Trace Levels of Toxic Elements in Consumer Products Using High Definition X-ray Fluorescence

这一小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目将在适合工厂车间使用的设备中，对消费品的基材和涂层中的微量有毒元素进行快速、无损、定量的分析。2008年的《消费品安全改进法案》(CPSIA)等限制措施正在全球范围内扩大到铅以外的范围，在痕量水平上包括更多的有害元素。该分析仪将为制造商提供便利地测试其产品、原材料和部件是否符合新标准的手段。目前，还没有在实验室外准确测试的实用方法。其目的是构建一种分析仪，用于定量测定10种有毒元素的含量，达到或低于规定的水平。该分析仪将使用XOS世界领先的X射线光学技术，从单个X射线管产生多个单色光束，为元素周期表的整个相关部分提供出色的灵敏度、较低的检测下限和较短的测量时间。它将包括先进的软件，用于处理组合数据集和分离涂层和基材的结果。低功耗、减少维护和紧凑的设计适合于制造、分销或监管环境。这项研究的更广泛影响是降低了意外暴露风险。玩具和其他消费品将更安全，因为成人和儿童受到保护，不受有毒元素的影响。美国制造商、分销商、零售商和监管机构正面临着越来越多的全球法规，这些法规限制制成品中的有害物质，并伴随着相关的成本和责任风险。这一新的测试能力将比现有的基于实验室的方法降低75%以上的测试成本，目前超过10亿美元。它还将通过在产品离开工厂或配送中心之前进行测试，帮助美国制造商和分销商实现具有成本效益的合规性，从而获得或保持他们的竞争地位，并避免由于制造业向海外转移而造成的销售和就业机会的损失。该分析仪还将使制造商能够安全地探索新材料，作为受限制材料的替代品。消费者的担忧为美国制造商提供了一个增加市场份额的机会，如果他们能够证明安全的话。此外，对消费者的社会效益也是显著的。消费者可以确信他们购买的产品是安全的。准确检测有毒元素的能力将有助于减少它们进入市场的扩散，并改善公共健康。这就提高了生活质量，减轻了保健负担。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will demonstrate rapid, nondestructive, quantitative analysis of trace-level toxic elements in both substrates and coated layers for consumer products in a device fit for purpose on a factory floor. Restrictions such as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) are expanding world wide beyond lead to include additional harmful elements at trace levels. The analyzer will provide manufacturers the means to conveniently test their products, raw materials, and components for compliance with the new standards. Currently, there is no practical method to accurately test outside of a lab. The objective is to construct an analyzer for quantifying ten toxic elements at or below regulated levels. The analyzer will use XOS's world-leading x-ray optics to produce multiple monochromatic beams from a single x-ray tube, providing excellent sensitivity, lower limits of detection, and short measurement times for the entire relevant part of the periodic table. It will include advanced software for processing the combined data sets and separating the results for the coatings and substrates. The low-power consumption, reduced maintenance, and compact design are fit for purpose in manufacturing, distribution, or regulatory environments.The broader impact of this research is the mitigation of inadvertent exposure risk. Toys and other consumer products will be safer as adults and children are protected from toxic elements. American manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and regulators are facing increasing global regulations restricting hazardous substances in manufactured products with associated costs and liability risks. This new testing capability would reduce testing costs by more than 75%, currently more than $1B, compared to existing laboratory-based methods. It would also assist U.S. manufacturers and distributors in cost-effective compliance by testing before the products leave the plant or distribution center, thereby, gaining or preserving their competitive position and avoiding the loss of sales and jobs due to offshore migration of manufacturing. This analyzer will also enable manufactures to safely explore new materials as a substitute for restricted materials. Consumer fears provide U.S. manufacturers an opportunity to increase market share if they can demonstrate safety. Additionally, the societal benefits for consumers are significant. Consumers can be certain the products they buy are safe. The ability to accurately detect toxic elements will help to reduce their proliferation into the marketplace and improve public health. This enables improved quality of life and a reduced health care burden.