Spectron Inc, the leader in the design, manufacture and sale of high precision consumable products for the mass spectrometry community since 1988 has released a new line of consumables. As a compliment to our standard product line, Spectron is introducing a unique line of e•SPEC™ (enhanced SPECTRON) products.  Based on extensive industry experience, collaboration with fellow scientists and unique expertise in the manufacture of high precision, analytical components, we have enhanced the functionality and in many cases lowered the cost of these products.

Platinum cones are not manufactured from pure platinum.  Pure platinum is soft and more vulnerable to attack by certain acids and conditions.  Alloying Pt to Rh or Ir (typically 90%/10%) increases the hardness of the metal and dramatically improves its resistance to such attack.  Historically, the choice of Pt/Rh or Pt/Ir alloys has been largely due to the availability and price of raw materials.  Increasing demand for Rh in exhaust catalysts and glass manufacture, and unreliable supply of the metal has inflated the price of Rh from a low of $209/Troy oz in February of 1997 to a high of $6,500/Troy oz. in April of this year. 

We already manufacture Pt/10Ir “specials” for those customers that require very low Rh background levels in their analysis. These “specials” behave as well or better than our standard Pt/10Rh sets. Based on our experience and independent metallurgical tests, we have decided that the manufacture of platinum cones with Pt/10Ir is best suited to our customer’s needs. Pt/10Ir behaves as well or better than Pt/10Rh, is less expensive and does not impart a Rh background. We are confident in these products and guarantee their quality.

As with all Spectron platinum cone products; we offer free refurbishing for the lifetime of the cones.  Typically this extends cone lifetime well beyond one year.  At the end of the cones life Spectron will then give our customers credit for future purchases based on the platinum metal content.