Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy for multielement analysis of powdered materials used in additive technologies

Additive manufacturing technologies utilizing metal parts production with layer by layer printing are of high demand for different fields of science and technology. Analytical chemistry is challenged to provide multielemental quantitative analysis of any metal powders within a few minutes and onsite to fulfil the requirements for high quality metal parts production. 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 were estimated for tungsten and carbon analysis 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 the potential of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy as a promising technique for express onsite multielement analysis of powder materials utilized in additive technologies.