Torches and methods of using them
View Patent ↗Certain embodiments described herein are directed to a torch that includes a suitable amount of a refractory material. In some embodiments, the torch can include one or more non-refractory materials in combination with a refractory material. In some embodiments, the torch can comprise a refractory material and an optically transparent window. In other embodiments, the torch can comprise a material comprising a melting point higher than the melting point of quartz.
1. A torch comprising a body configured to sustain an atomization source in the body, the torch body comprising an inlet end within a first section of the torch body and an exit end within a second section of the torch body, in which the torch is configured to desolvate sample at the first section of the torch body and to sustain an atomization source within the second section of the torch body, in which the first section and the second section of the torch body are coupled to each other through at least one material, in which the first section of the torch body comprises a non-refractory material, in which at least an exit end within the second section of the torch body comprises at least one refractory material.
2. The torch of claim 1 , in which the refractory material is coated onto the exit end of the torch body.
3. The torch of claim 1 , in which the refractory material is present in an effective length along a longitudinal dimension of the second section of the torch body.
4. The torch of claim 3 , in which the refractory material is present in an effective thickness at the exit end of the torch body.
5. The torch of claim 1 , in which the entire second section of the torch body comprises the refractory material.
6. The torch of claim 5 , in which the torch body comprises an opening within the second section comprising the refractory material that is configured to receive an optically transparent material.
7. The torch of claim 1 , in which the torch body comprises an outer tube, comprising the first section and the second section, and an inner tube within the outer tube, in which the refractory material is present on the outer tube.
8. The torch of claim 1 , in which the torch body comprises an outer tube, comprising the first section and the section, and an inner tube within the outer tube, in which the refractory material is present on both the inner tube and the outer tube.
9. The torch of claim 1 , in which the torch body comprises a substantially constant diameter along a longitudinal dimension of the torch body and the refractory material of the second section and non-refractory material of the first section are coupled to each other with an adhesive or cement.
10. The torch of claim 1 , in which the torch body comprises a substantially constant diameter along a longitudinal dimension of the torch body and refractory material of the second section and non-refractory material of the first section are further fused to each other.
11. The torch of claim 1 , in which the torch body comprises a substantially constant diameter along a longitudinal dimension of the torch body and the refractory material of the second section and non-refractory material of the first section are coupled to each other through a frit or a ground glass joint.
12. A torch comprising a hollow cylindrical outer tube and a hollow cylindrical inner tube within the hollow cylindrical outer tube, the hollow cylindrical outer tube comprising a substantially constant diameter along a longitudinal dimension of the outer tube, and comprising a fluid inlet section configured to receive a cooling gas flow to cool outer surfaces of the hollow cylindrical inner tube, the hollow cylindrical inner tube configured to receive a gas effective to sustain an atomization source in the torch, in which the hollow cylindrical outer tube comprises an inlet section and an outlet section coupled to each other through at least one material, in which the inlet section of the hollow cylindrical outer tube comprises a non-refractory material, and in which an exit end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube comprises a refractory material.
13. The torch of claim 12 , in which an exit end of the hollow cylindrical inner tube comprises a refractory material.
14. The torch of claim 12 , in which an entrance end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube comprises a non-refractory material.
15. The torch of claim 14 , in which the non-refractory material at the entrance end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube and the refractory material at the exit end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube are coupled to each other through the at least one material.
16. The torch of claim 15 , in which the refractory material at the exit end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube and the non-refractory material at the entrance end of the outer tube are coupled to each other through one or more of an adhesive, a cement, a frit, a ground glass joint or are fused to each other.
17. The torch of claim 12 , in which the outer tube comprises a slot extending into the outer tube for a slot length and the refractory material of the outer tube extends into the outer tube at a length about the same as the slot length.
18. The torch of claim 12 , in which the refractory material is coated onto an inner surface of the exit end of the outer hollow cylindrical tube.
19. The torch of claim 12 , in which the exit end comprises solid refractory material.
20. The torch of claim 17 , in which the refractory material is only present on the outlet end of the torch with the length about the same as the slot length.