When we approach to an unknown sample, this is very common to ask what are the constituents and how much of them present in this material . We are interested because we understand the composition affects both physical and chemical properties. For example, different steels (SS304,SS 316, SS302) have different elemental composition and ratio which contribute to their different in hardness and etc.

Depending on the following factors, different surface sensitive instruments could be used to look for the composition.

Factors:

  1. the size and location of interested area
    - topmost surface/ bulk
    -A or um scale
    -evenly distributed or localized

  2. qualitative (what are the constituents)
    - elemental/molecular level

  3. quantitative and the reporting level
    -1%/ppm level

Instruments:

  1. SEM (scanning electron microscope)/ EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy)
  2. XRD
  3. XRF
  4. XPS (X-ray Photo-electron Spectroscopy )
  5. AES (Auger Electron Spectroscopy)
  6. FT-IR(Micro Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy)
  7. TOF-SIMS
  8. TEM
  9. ICP-AES
  10. GC-MS

Examples

A. Elemental composition of TiN thin film
Analysis Technique: XPS or AES


Figure 25 XPS spectrum of the TiN thin film

B. Elemental composition of stainless steel
Analysis Technique: XRF


Figure 26 XRF spectrum of a stainless steel

C. Constituents of organic solvent in anti-corrosion oil
Analysis Technique: GC-MS


Figure 27 GC-MS spectrum of the organic solvent in anti-corrosion oil showing the presence of CFC compound.
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  ASMAC can now offer Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM) service. SAM is an idea technique to study subsurface defects and crack propagation in materials.

ASMAC can provide electropolishing and chemical polishing service for metal finishing and metallurgy preparation purposes, including process development and refining for high quality products.