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Industrial Applications of LIBS

Seminar by Deepak RajputPHYS 605 Advanced Topics: Laser Spectroscopy

July 10, 2007Center for Laser Applications

University of Tennessee Space InstituteTullahoma, TN 37388

Email: drajput@utsi.eduWeb: http://drajput.com

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Applications

Metals and Alloys Processing

Scrap Material Sorting and Recycling

Nuclear Power Generation and Spent Fuel Reprocessing

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Metals and Alloys Processing

Slag Analysis

Liquid Steel Analysis

Identification of Pipe Fittings

Steel making

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Thumb Rule: “The quality of steel is determined by the quality of slag !!”

Reduces analysis time by ~40%

Superseded: XRF Spectroscopy

…../ Slag Analysis

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Page 405, Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: Fundamentals & Applications, Cambridge University Press, 2006

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…../ Liquid Steel Analysis

Goal: To receive a fast elemental analysis of the steel composition. (e.g., HSLA steel, Stainless Steel, etc.)

Reduces analysis time by ~50%

Superseded: Spark OES

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Corrosion: The biggest problem in oil and gas companies.

Variety of steel grades are used in these companies

Mismatch in pipes can lead to corrosion with severe consequential damage

Laser Identification of Fitting and Tubes (LIFT) is used.

Superseded: Spark OES

…../ Identification of pipe fittings

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Segregation of brominated plastics from non-brominated plastics

Sorting of metal alloys by grade type or group

Sorting of technical glasses according to their chemical composition

Scrap Material Sorting and Recycling

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Strengths of LIBS

Rapid

Accurate

Reliable

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Thank You

“The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do”