Compact measuring system for laser emission spectrometry of coated and uncoated materials

Laser emission spectrometry, which is also known as laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS), has been successfully applied to the analysis of metallic and non-metallic materials for several years now. First industrial applications of this technique are the sort identification of pipe fittings, the analysis of steel samples and slag, and the high-speed laser emission spectrometry for the analysis of inclusions in steel. Apart from the use of LIBS in the steel making and processing industry, the application of this technique in several other fields such as the analysis of heavy metals in soils or in polymers has been reported.