Solid sampling techniques for the characterization of materials: ETV-ICP, EC-ICP, Inert Gas Fusion Techniques, Glow Discharge
However, more generally, a challenging part of materials characterization may be the need of sample preparation, sometimes involving various tedious procedures depending on the elements of interest. Contamination may occur during this step, adding to the uncertainty on the results. Sample preparation can be the most tedious and limiting step for some materials such as high purity graphite where quality control is almost impossible due to the very low level of impurities tolerated. Some elements such as Carbon, Oxygen or Hydrogen require solid sample analysis technique and inert gas fusion techniques are a perfect tool for this, well known and accepted since years. There is more and more a need to identify not only the element but also the phase or its form as it affects the quality and the characteristics of the materials. For example, free carbon in ceramics affects purity and strength hence the need to differentiate it from the total carbon in those materials.
This presentation will present several techniques and examples: Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry for the characterization of coatings, depth profiling and thickness measurement on solids. Specific accessories for ICP-OES such as ETV for the direct characterization of pure graphite and carbon black and also an innovative electrochemical cell that is designed for corrosion studies at the nanometric scale. A new furnace design for inert gas fusion technique, which improves performances for the determination of free carbon in ceramics, will also be described.