QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS; CARBON CONTENT; LIBS; TEMPERATURE; TRANSFORM; PLASMAS; LINES

To minimize the impact of spectral interference on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) quantitative analyses, an algorithm based on wavelet transform was developed for simultaneous correction of spectral interference and continuum background. The root-mean-square error of calibration (RMSEC) of the univariate regression model for the element of interest was applied to determine the wavelet function, decomposition level, and scaling factor alpha. When the interference-free analytical lines of the elements of interest cannot be directly obtained from the measured spectra, they can be extracted from the spectra with the developed method for quantitative analysis. This method was applied for LIBS analyses of chromium (Cr), silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), and manganese (Mn) with continuum backgrounds and spectral interference in low alloy steel samples. The root-mean-square errors of cross-validation (RMSECV) of elements Cr, Si, Ti, and Mn were 0.0295, 0.0140, 0.0183, and 0.0558 wt%, respectively. The results demonstrated that the developed algorithm contributed to accuracy improvement for LIBS quantitative analyses with the presence of spectral interference.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; Microscope optics; Mn; Quantitative analysis;SPECTROMETRY; SAMPLES; LIBS

Manganese in the low alloy steel was analyzed quantitatively using micro-laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. The spatial resolution of 20 mu m and the single pulse limit of detection of 0. 10% were obtained. The calibration curve of Mn was established with basic calibration method, with determination coefficient (R-2) of 0. 97. The average relative error of Mn concentration prediction on 7 samples is 12. 91%, and the root-mean-square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) is 0. 11%. The R2 reaches 0. 99 when using internal calibration method, as well as the average relative error of Mn concentration prediction on 7 samples and RMSECV were decreased to 7. 25% and 0. 07%, respectively. These results show that MicroLIBS technique is an effective approach for material surfaces quantitative microanalysis.

laser ablation; laser induced breakdown spectroscopy; picosecond pulse train ablation;ND-YAG LASER; QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS; Q-SWITCH; ABLATION; PLASMA; SAMPLES; STEEL; GENERATION

Picosecond pulse train and nanosecond pulse were compared for laser ablation and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) measurements. A detailed study revealed that the picosecond pulse train ablation improved the quality of laser craters (symmetric crater walls and the absence of large redeposited droplets), which was explained by a smaller heat affected zone and suppression of melt splash. Greater plasma dimensions and brighter plasma emission were observed by gated imaging for picosecond pulse train compared to nanosecond pulse ablation. Increased intensity of atomic and ionic lines in gated and time integrated spectra provided better signal-to-noise ratio for picosecond pulse train sampling. Higher temperature and electron density were detected during first microsecond for the plasma induced by the picosecond pulse train. Improved shot-to-shot reproducibility for atomic/ionic line intensity in the case of picosecond pulse train LIBS was explained by more effective atomization of target material in plasma and better quality of laser craters. Improved precision and limits of detections were determined for picosecond pulse train LIBS due to better reproducibility of laser sampling and increased signal-to-noise ratio.