Handheld Carbon Analyzer for Carbon, other Alloying Elements in Stainless and Carbon Steels

Pedro Machaqueiro, SciAps Inc, Woburn, USA (pmachaqueiro@sciaps.com)

SciAps has developed handheld LIBS technology (laser induced breakdown spectroscopy) for the analysis of stainless and carbon steel alloys for carbon content.  LIBS technology utilizes a miniature laser operating at 5 mJ/pulse, 50 Hz repetition rate.  The laser replaces the electric spark source used by mobile OES systems, with a miniaturized, high energy pulsed laser.  Because of the small laser size and 50 um beam, argon consumption is about 1,000 times less than conventional spark OES.  The argon supply is therefore a small user-replaceable canister residing in the handle instead of external tank.   The analyzer measures carbon down to 0.01% (100 ppm) in steels.  It also measures other alloying elements and can determine carbon equivalents (CE) for weldability.   This paper will present the latest performance data as well as field testing and r&R data.

---

Short Biography of Presenting Author

Msc Engineering, Sales Manager SciAps