Selective sampling and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis of organic explosive residues on polymer surfaces.

A method for selective sampling and analysis of explosive residues on solid surfaces based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is presented. Organic explosives are difficult to analyze when present as residues on organic materials. Under these circumstances LIBS suffers from the limitations imposed by the limited spectroscopic information available for the analysis.

Secondary ion mass spectrometry of powdered explosive compounds for forensic evidence analysis.

Rationale: Residual quantities of explosives deposited on, or absorbed in, nearby surfaces can be of forensic value in post-blast analysis. As secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) may be a suitable analytical approach for the screening of such residues, its performance was evaluated.

Methods: The analyses were carried out in a SIMS instrument fitted with a quadrupole analyzer.

New Raman-laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy identity of explosives using parametric data fusion on an integrated sensing platform.

The principal goal of sensors for the detection of explosives is to establish the identity of the interrogated target as a key to threat assessment and decision making. Despite the fact that both Raman spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) have shown their capability in standoff detection of explosives, such techniques are not exempt from certain limitations, in terms of sensitivity and selectivity, to carry out this purpose when they are used individually. For this reason, the idea for the fusion of data reported by these orthogonal techniques, Raman and LIBS, has been around for a while.

On-line laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy determination of magnesium coating thickness on electrolytically galvanized steel in motion.

The application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for online analysis of novel Zn based alloy coatings during continuous production of galvannealed steel has been demonstrated. Field trials were carried out at the ThyssenKrupp Steel (TKS) pilot plant in Dortmund, Germany. For this purpose, a portable LIBS demonstrator was constructed and evaluated, based on a dual-pulse Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, operated at 1064 nm.

Simultaneous Raman spectroscopy-laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for instant standoff analysis of explosives using a mobile integrated sensor platform.

A novel experimental design combining Raman spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in a unique integrated sensor is described. The sensor presented herein aims to demonstrate the applicability of a hybrid dual Raman-LIBS system as an analytical tool for the standoff analysis of energetic materials. Frequency-doubled 532 nm Nd:YAG nanosecond laser pulses, first expanded and then focused using a 10x beam expander on targets located at 20 m, allowed simultaneous acquisition of Raman-LIBS spectra for 4-mononitrotoluene (MNT), 2,6-dinitrotoluene (DNT), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), C4 and H15 (plastic explosives containing 90% and 75% of RDX by weight, respectively), and Goma2-ECO (Spanish denominated dynamite class high explosive mainly composed of ammonium nitrate, nitroglycol, and dinitrotoluene among other compounds), sodium chlorate, and ammonium nitrate.

Atomic/molecular depth profiling of nanometric-metallized polymer thin films by secondary ion mass spectrometry.

The capability of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to perform atomic and molecular in-depth analysis in complex nanometric-metallized thin polymer films used to manufacture capacitors is demonstrated through three different case studies related to failure analysis. The excellent repeatability and sensitivity of the technique allow us to study the degradation process of the nanometric-metallized layer in the capacitor films and the accurate location of the metal-polymer interface. The analysis of the sample is challenging due to the extreme difference in conductivity between layers, and the reduced thickness of the metallization grown on top of a rough polymeric base.