| ABSTRACT: |
LASER-INDUCED BREAKDOWN SPECTROSCOPY: A NEW TOOL FOR PROCESS CONTROL
M. Sabsabi, L. St-Onge, and V. Detalle
Industrial Materials Institute, National Research Council Canada, Boucherville, Quebec, Canada
During the lifetime of any material, from its mineral state through its many transformations during
manufacturing until its final degradation, as well as for many engineered products, especially for composite
or layered structures, knowledge of composition is crucial. For example, the metal-producing industry faces
the major challenge of increasing productivity by reducing cost and by optimum use of existing equipment.
There are numerous applications throughout that industry where material composition analysis is required
for process control, effluent monitoring, control of product quality, etc.
The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique is based on the spectroscopic analysis of light
emission from the plasma generated by focusing a powerful laser beam on a target. An important advantage
of the technique over classical methods stems from the possibility of in-situ analysis of virtually all types of
materials (solids, liquids, molten materials, and gases) without the need for any sample preparation. In this
paper, we will present the LIBS technique as a versatile tool that can provide the required solutions to the
metal-making industry. Also, we will discuss recent advances in LIBS in terms of low cost control during
process, rapidity and possibility to operate on-site for global control (elemental composition, conductive and
non conductive materials, inclusion detection), and will present some of its applications for process
monitoring in the metallurgical industry.
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