Comparison of a compact energy‐dispersive spectrometer with a wavelength‐dispersive spectrometer for brass and stainless steel

Abstract

Using a Philips MiniPal energy‐dispersive instrument we measured two sets of brass and stainless‐steel standard reference materials (SRMs) provided by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The spectra of 11 brass SRMs and 19 stainless‐steel SRMs were measured during a 600 s live time. The intensities of the Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Fe and Sn lines were calculated for brass and of the Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Mo lines for stainless steel. The regression equations for each element using a De Jongh model and giving the lowest value of the relative standard deviation (RSD) were determined. In most cases it was necessary to use two correction factors for the minimization of the RSD. For comparison, measurements of all samples and elements using a Philips PW 1480 wavelength‐dispersive spectrometer were also performed. Differences in the RSD values obtained using the two spectrometers were not significant for the main elements, Cu and Zn in brass and Cr, Fe and Ni in stainless steel. For minor elements, the RSD values were 2–6 times larger for the MiniPal instrument and were poor for Sn and Co. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Atomic spectrometry update. Industrial analysis: metals, chemicals and advanced materials

“…A prototype instrument capable of both LIBS and spark-atomic emission spectrometry (SAES) using the same optical mounting was reported. 1 Similar sensitivities were observed for both emission sources for low alloying elements in steel, such as Cr, Mn, Mo and Ni in the range 0-1200 mg kg 21 , and for traces of C, N, P and S between 2 and 10 mg kg 21 . Limits of detection (LOD) of 5 mg kg 21 were reported for C, P and S using LIBS; however, the LOD for N was 20 mg kg 21 .…”

“…1 Similar sensitivities were observed for both emission sources for low alloying elements in steel, such as Cr, Mn, Mo and Ni in the range 0-1200 mg kg 21 , and for traces of C, N, P and S between 2 and 10 mg kg 21 . Limits of detection (LOD) of 5 mg kg 21 were reported for C, P and S using LIBS; however, the LOD for N was 20 mg kg 21 . Overall improvements in LODs are anticipated.…”

“…Reported LODs for light and heavy elements were about 10 mg kg 21 or lower. The steel melt composition was also determined by LIBS in conjunction with an optical temperature probe that can be put into the melt.…”

“…A laser induced argon spark atomizer was developed to couple with an ICP-AES instrument for the analysis of metallic samples. 9 The laser sampler generated particle sizes less than 100 mm in diameter with ablation rates of 1.0-16.7 mg s 21 . The stability of the emission signal was ¡5% relative for ablation times of up to 10 min.…”

Quantitative or semi‐quantitative?–laboratory‐based WD‐XRF versus portable ED‐XRF spectrometer: results obtained from measurements on nickel‐base alloys

“…Comparisons of different analytical XRF methods with each other or with non-XRF techniques investigating materials such as metals, ceramics, archaeological samples, waste products, plastics, etc., are described in the literature. 2 -7 Parus et al 2 measured two sets of brass and stainless-steel standard reference materials (SRMs) using an energy-dispersive (ED) XRF desktop spectrometer and a wavelength-dispersive (WD) XRF spectrometer. Differences in the relative standard deviation (RSD) values obtained were not significant for the main elements Cu and Zn in brass and Cr, Fe and Ni in stainless steel.…”