Laser Ablation (LA)-ICP-MS for Production Control of Nickel Alloys
Nickel alloys are critical components in industries like aerospace and energy, requiring strict control over physical properties and trace metal contaminants. Traditional methods like X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) may struggle with the increasingly stringent specifications for impurity levels required by modern high-performance materials.
This document details an evaluation of Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) as a superior method for routine monitoring. The study utilized a New Wave UP266 MACRO laser system coupled with an Agilent 7500a ICP-MS to analyze nickel-base superalloys, demonstrating improved detection limits and accuracy compared to traditional instrumentation.
| Laser Spot Size | 515 um |
|---|---|
| Laser Energy | 60 % |
| Repetition Rate | 10 Hz |
| Line Speed | 30 um/s |
| Forward Power | 1350 W |
| Carrier Gas Flow | 12 L/min |
The study utilized the New Wave UP266 MACRO laser system.
The Agilent 7500a ICP-MS system was used in the evaluation.
LA-ICP-MS provides acceptable limits of detection, accuracy, recovery, and long-term stability at lower levels than X-ray Fluorescence and Optical Emission Spectroscopy.