WET CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

Destructive chemical analysis on metallic materials can be complemented with instruments capable of analyzing items with irregular shapes, powders, or chips through microwave mineralization and subsequent composition determination using ICP-OES. This technique operates in liquid phase and allows for the determination of the concentration of almost all elements in the periodic table with higher precision than standard solid-state spark techniques. The ability to operate regardless of the product’s geometry makes it possible to analyze small items or those with irregular surfaces, low thicknesses, or complex shapes that would otherwise be untestable.

ICP-OES is based on phenomena similar to those used in spark instruments. Elements in solution are excited by a plasma, which causes them to emit light. The decomposition of the resulting light spectrum makes it possible to identify wavelengths directly linked to the elemental composition of the alloy, both qualitatively (type of element) and quantitatively (concentration). One of the main advantages lies in working with a liquid obtained through alloy mineralization, which results in greater homogeneity of the sample – uniform at every point – ensuring more reproducible data and low measurement uncertainty.

The ICP-OES technique thus allows for the reliable and repeatable analysis of elements with high concentration in the alloy.

Nearly all elements in the periodic table can be analyzed using ICP techniques, with the exception of C, O, N, H, P, and S.