ICP – Induction Coupled Plasma

The ICP is a sophisticated hi-tech instrument used for detecting trace amounts of metals in a sample. The ICP is sensitive and accurate enough to detect elements down to parts-per-million (PPM). In an ICP analysis, a small sub-sample of the material is dissolved in several acids and the resulting liquid is vaporised at a very high temperature in a mass spectrometer. Reading the peaks of the mass spectrum output allows the operator to determine which metals are present and what their concentration is.

X-Ray Fluorescence

The X-ray fluorescence is a non-destructive technique that is suitable for fast assaying requirements. It has an accuracy of 5 parts per thousand and is well suited to relatively flat and smooth surfaces. It is a quick technique that takes about three to ten minutes and the computer can automatically print out the results. The content of other alloying metals is also measured.