In-situ phase analysis by a versatile miniaturized Mössbauer spectrometer

The element iron plays a major role in modern industries and technologies as for instance car-industry, mineral processing and steel production and power plants. For quality control, process monitoring and device inspection (e.g., pipes in power plants) a fast, non-destructive and sensitive analytical method is desirable. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy is able to determine the different iron phases (e.g., oxides, sulfides, nitrates, carbonates and carbides) and therefore would be the ideal tool to perform this job. We have developed a miniaturized backscattering Mössbauer spectrometer for space applications which will be modified and used for industrial applications under certain circumstances. The instrument is designed in a modular way which would allow to adapt it to different applications. The instrument has approximately the size of a soft drink can, a weight of about 0.5 kg, and a power consumption of about 3 watts.