Abstract:Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied to the analysis of bioceramic samples. The relationship between sample hardness and LIBS plasma properties was investigated, with comparison to conventional Vickers hardness measurements. The plasma excitation temperature T e was determined using the lineto-continuum ratio for the Si (I) 288.16 nm emission line; we have demonstrated a linear relationship between sample surface hardness and plasma temperature. Results indicate that hardness determination based on measurements of T e offers greater reproducibility than Vickers hardness measurements, under the conditions considered here. The validity of spectroscopic diagnostics based on LTE was confirmed.