The validity of commercial LIBS for quantitative analysis of brass alloy — comparison of WDXRF and AAS

Commercial low-cost laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been successfully employed for the quantitative analysis of a Cu-based alloy using a Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm. The main aim of the present investigation is to explore the benefits of a commercial low-cost LIBS setup. It was recognized that some trace elements such as Al and S could not be detected by LIBS even with a high-resolution spectrometer. The main difficulties in quantifying Cu as a basic component of a brass alloy are related to the self-absorption of Cu spectral lines, with the effect complicated at Cu concentrations higher than 65%. However, few Cu lines such as that at 330.795 nm would be helpful to use due to their lower susceptibility to self-absorption. LIBS, flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) were compared for the detection of major and trace metals in the Cu-based alloy. In the case of WDXRF, the brass samples were identified by using a standardless quantitative analysis program depending on a fundamental parameter approach. The quantitative analysis results were acceptable for most of the major and minor elements of the brass sample. Therefore, commercial low cost LIBS would be useful for quantitative analysis of most elements in different types of alloys.