Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy for multielement analysis of powder materials utilized in additive technologies

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) can effectively and accurately analyze multiple elements, including light elements, in powder materials used in additive manufacturing, offering a rapid on-site analysis method.

Contribution

First application of LIBS for multielement analysis of additive manufacturing powders, showing improved accuracy and capability over X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.

Findings

LIBS provides high reproducibility for powder analysis.

LIBS outperforms X-ray fluorescence in accuracy.

LIBS can quantify light elements like carbon effectively.

Abstract

Powder materials utilized in additive technologies were quantitatively analyzed by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy for the first time. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy mapping of loose metal powder attached to the double-sided adhesive tape provided high reproducibility of measurements even for powder mixtures with large difference of particles densities (tungsten carbide particles in nickel alloy powder). Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy analytical capabilities for tungsten and carbon analysis were estimated by calibration curve construction and accuracy estimation by leave-one-out cross-validation procedure. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy techniques comparison revealed better results for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy analysis. Improved accuracy of analysis and capability to quantify light elements (carbon etc.) demonstrated large perspectives of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy as a technique for express on-site multelement analysis of powder materials utilized in additive technologies.