Rapid Access Instructions

wiki page under construction,

see http://11bm.xray.aps.anl.gov/instructions.html

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Overview

11-BM High-Resolution Powder Diffraction Mail-In Instructions:

Carefully read these instructions to ensure a successful mail-in experiment. Please contact beamline staff ([email protected]) with questions or comments at any time.

SAMPLE BASE KIT: The requested mail-in sample base kit(s) and pre-printed return-shipping label are enclosed. Each sample kit contains the following:

Mounting Base: a unique barcode number (e.g. ANL0AA1234) printed on the side & bottom (as a 2D barcode). This number is needed to register samples, and is used to track the sample in all steps of the mail-in service. Do not use solvents to clean the base; this will damage the printed barcode and number.

Magnetic Cap: to cover and protect samples during shipment & handling. Do not write on the caps; they are re-used and cannot be used to identify your sample. All samples must fit completely inside the caps; the 11-BM robotic sample loader will destroy longer samples.

Kapton Capillary Tubes: to contain samples. The inner diameter of the supplied tube is 0.80 mm. The outside diameter fits snugly inside the mounting base. All samples (powders, foils, nested capillaries, etc.) must be fully contained and secured within straight Kapton tubes. Samples are spun at high speed during data collection. Non-secured samples will shift or move out of the beam position when spun. We cannot mount unsecured or bend samples. Kapton tubes are provided for your convenience. Kapton is stable over a wide temperature range and adds a negligible contribution to the diffraction scan background.

PROHIBITED SAMPLE HAZARDS:

11-BM does NOT accept any of the following sample hazards for mail-in work:

Biohazard or Human-Derived Materials Radioactive Materials Non-Sterilized Regulated Soils Explosives or Unstable Materials

We do not accept samples combining the following hazards: flammable, corrosive or oxidizer.

Regulated metals (“RCRA” class: Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Se) are accepted, but must be identified when registered.

All samples shipped to the APS must qualify for small quantity exceptions under U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) regulations (CFR Title 49 §173.4). In general, most samples (except those listed above) are acceptable under these regulations except materials that are pyrophoric (ignite in air) (§173.124b) or dangerous when wet (§173.124b). Full safety details and definitions are available on the 11-BM website.

Please take special care to ensure that samples potentially hazardous to beamline staff (Nano, Toxic, Carcinogenic, Flammable, etc) are securely contained and permanently sealed in the Kapton tubes. REGISTRATION & SCAN REQUESTS:

REGISTRATION & SCAN REQUESTS:

Sample registration is required for APS safety forms, and allows mail-in users to request scan parameters.

You must register and receive approval from 11-BM staff BEFORE mailing any samples to the APS.

Register your sample(s) using the provided email links or on the 11-BM web page at:

http://11bm.xray.aps.anl.gov/user.php?step=2

For each sample, provide a chemical name & formula. A sample ID for your records is optional. Do not use non-element symbols to stand for classes of elements (RE for rare-earth, etc). Compositions may be symbolic or approximate [e.g. Na(x)Li(1-x)O]. Also specify the appropriate hazard(s) information.

Check all the hazard boxes that apply. Hazard definitions are available on the 11-BM webpage

Select scan parameters for each sample using the pull-down menus. Select a standard (≈ 1 hour) scan at room temperature Ambient or low temperature 100 K. Alternatively, select Other from the menu to request non-standard scan types or temperatures (100 - 450 K), or to select multiple scans (i.e. two temperatures) for a single sample. Note custom scan requests are added on a subsequent webpage (this page appears only after clicking on the "Register Sample Info" button to proceed). See 11-BM webpages for custom scan options & restrictions.

When prompted by email, you must take action to confirm the registration information. This “e-signature” is necessary to comply with APS and DOE safety regulations.

It is important that samples are registered, confirmed, and approved before shipment. Unregistered samples arriving at the APS may be destroyed. Repeat offenders may lose mail-in access to 11-BM and the APS.