I. Daily Maintenance and Care

1. Environmental Management

Temperature & Humidity Control: Maintain laboratory temperature between 15–25°C with relative humidity ≤70% to prevent moisture damage to circuitry and performance degradation of the detector.

Dust & Vibration Prevention: Regularly clean the instrument's exterior and interior using a vacuum or soft brush, paying special attention to precision components like the X-ray tube and detector. Place the instrument on a stable, vibration-damped surface to ensure measurement accuracy.

Cooling System Maintenance: Use distilled water or specified coolant. Regularly inspect circulation lines for blockages to prevent scaling. Clean or replace coolant promptly if cooling efficiency declines.

2. Component Care

Sample Stage & Optical Path: Wipe the sample stage with anhydrous ethanol after each use to prevent cross-contamination. Inspect optical windows (e.g., slits, filters) regularly to ensure they are free from dust or scratches.

X-ray Tube Maintenance:

Standby Management: For continuous operation exceeding 1 hour, set the tube to standby mode (e.g., 40 kV/10mA). For idle periods over 2 weeks, shut down high voltage and disconnect power. If unused for over 3 months, remove and store the tube properly.

Conditioning & Cleaning: Perform conditioning (gradual voltage increase) for new or long-stored tubes as per manual to prevent arcing. Clean the tube surface regularly with approved agents to prevent contamination.

Detector Care: Protect the detector window from direct strong light. Use the provided cover when not in use. If signal anomalies occur, check window cleanliness or contact specialists for calibration.

II. Safety Operation Protocol

1. Pre-Operation Preparation

Personal Protection: Operators must wear lead aprons, lead gloves, and personal radiation dosimeters. Restrict access to authorized personnel only with clear warning signs posted.

Equipment Check: Before startup, verify all connections, ensure safety interlocks (e.g., door interlocks, emergency stops) are functional, and confirm cooling/ventilation systems are operating normally.

2. Precautions During Operation

Parameter Settings: Select testing parameters based on sample type. Avoid exceeding 80% of the rated voltage/current. Set the starting scan angle ≥3° to prevent stage-detector collision.

Safety Interlocks: NEVER bypass or disable safety devices (e.g., starting with radiation shield open). Immediately stop and investigate if an interlock alarm triggers.

Abnormality Response: In case of burning odor, unusual noise, or voltage fluctuation, press the emergency stop immediately, cut power, and contact service personnel.

3. Post-Operation Procedures

Shutdown Sequence: Turn off the X-ray high voltage first, wait for it to drop to zero, then shut down the cooling system, followed by the main power and computer. Avoid direct power cuts.

Data & Documentation: Back up data promptly. Log all usage details, parameters, anomalies, and maintenance activities in the instrument record.

Waste Disposal: Dispose of radioactive samples or damaged X-ray tubes as hazardous waste according to regulations. Never discard randomly.

Summary

Maintenance of the X-ray diffractometer follows the principle of "Prevention First, Regular Inspection." Safety operations must strictly adhere to "Protection Priority, Standardized Procedures." Adhering to these scientific care and operation standards extends instrument service life, ensures personnel safety, and guarantees the reliability of your experimental data.