Some Common Misconceptions regarding the usage of a tube

based alloy analyzer over a source-based alloy analyzer.

Working period of source and tube.
The X-ray tube does not experience the gradual decay inherent
to a radioisotope source, but the tube itself has a limited
lifespan. As x-ray tube sources have just been introduced to the
world of portable instrumentation there exists no clear data as to
what exactly is the useful life of the tube.
Traditionally the average lifespan of an X-ray tube in a bench top
device is 3 to !ears. "owever as all of us #now portable
instrumentation is generally subject to harsher wor#ing
conditions. Therefore it is generally assumed among the
developers of portable instrumentation that the useful life of an
x-ray tube in these systems will be approximately $ years.

Speed of Measurement wrt age of the source
As time passes by, it is important to note that radioisotope-
based instruments experience gradual slowing over time, they
remain useable as the isotope decays.
"owever, X-ray tube-based systems do not experience the
slowdown, but sudden failure, leaving the instrument unusable
until the tube is replaced.
Regulatory assles.
The regulatory hassles is more or less the same in an X ray tube
as compared to that what an institution has to undergo to
procure a source. Tubes must be registered with the states
department of health and there is an associated fees for it as
well.
Reliability
%o data exists to either prove or disprove that the tube-based
systems are more reliable than a source based e&uipment.
A sealed radioisotope source will always produce x-rays at given
energies and does not depend on any external stimuli such as
electric current. Tubes on the other hand, will be sensitive to
fluctuations in voltage and current Tubes also generate heat,
which places stress on electronics, which is not the case with
radioisotopes.
'ealed radioisotope source are proven rugged with more than (
years of commercial use, and are unli#ely to be damaged by
humps or shoc#s. The same cannot be said for X-ray tubes.
Safety concerns
X-ray tube devices typically produce a higher x-ray flux ) ma#ing
it more critical that accidental exposure be avoided. The only
safety advantage is that the tube devices do not produce x-ray
when there is no voltage supplied to the coil. "owever,
radioisotopes produce x-rays constantly.
A typical radioisotope-based system however, used constantly for
* hours per day, 3( wee#s per year, exposes the user to a total
of less than +( m, of radiation ) or less than - percent the
allowable annual exposure limit imposed by .'"A.
Ruggedness of !ube based systems.
All, tube based devices are more sensitive to shoc#s and rough
handling. /esides, x-ray tubes re&uire substantial electric power
to generate excitation, while radioisotopes re&uire none.
'o they re&uire larger, heavier batteries that will provide only
about half the operation time of a radioisotope device while
weighing twice as much.