It’s safety check time! You need to perform a portable element analysis on a welded piece of your equipment. But how will you do this?
You can’t drag the entire machine into a laboratory. You can’t take a sample of the welded component and put it in a vial.
Industrial science has you covered. Scientists have developed methods of portable element analysis. With these, you can easily perform safety and reliability checks.
But how does it work? Read on to learn more about how portable analytical instruments can help you.
What Is Portable Element Analysis?
Portable instruments use different methods to make out the elemental composition of an object. These portable instruments rely on spectroscopy to perform their analysis.
Spectroscopy specifically deals with the emission and absorption of light and radiation. When an analysis is made through spectroscopy, light is split into wavelengths.
Elements give off different wavelengths of light. Spectroscopy instruments can use these wavelengths to determine what elements are present. They can also determine the quantity.
Typical laboratory spectroscopy methods involve the destruction of a sample. This preparation is necessary to analyze its composition. With this technology, you don’t need to damage a piece of equipment to determine what elements are in it.
Material analysis is an important part of ensuring that industrial parts are working properly. Element detection can help determine if a material breakdown has occurred, or if elements exist where they shouldn’t.
Portable Technology
One type of portable analysis technology is X-ray fluorescent technology (XRF). Devices that use XRF emit X-rays onto a source. They then measure the fluorescent X-rays produced by the source.
Different elements produce different fluorescent X-rays. As a result, the XRF device can measure what elements are present and how much of each there is.
Companies like Cianflon do a great deal of research into creating quality X-ray spectroscopy products. X-ray spectroscopy methods have only been around since the early twentieth century. It is important to continue researching and improving methods.
Spark Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) is considered portable and non-destructive. However, it does leave a mark and instruments are heavy. Samples also require preparation before analysis.
Spark OES emits a spark onto a sample. The elements present will produce an optical light.
Each element produces a different color, so the OES device can determine what elements are present. It can also give quantitative data by analyzing the intensity of color.
Another technology that requires sample preparation is Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). This method uses a laser to create a plasma on the sample. As the sample cools, it emits light.
Each element produces a unique spectral peak. Using this data, the LIBS device can give a material analysis.
Maintain Safety and Quality
Material verification will continue to be an important part of safety and quality programs. Portable element analysis provides an easy and quick way to ensure that your equipment is safe and effective. Check out the portable devices that can meet the needs of your industry.
Be sure to check out our technology section for more science applications.
