Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES)

Optical Emission Spectroscopy is a technique used by ITS to analyze the elemental composition of metals.

Material is heated to a high temperature, causing its electrons to release light of a particular wavelength, depending on the elements. Optical Emission utilizes a high energy spark created across an argon-filled gap between an electrode and a sample of the material to be analyzed. The Spark creates an emission of radiation from the excited surface with wavelengths characteristic of the elemental composition.

The equipment used at ITS for Optical Emissions Spectroscopy is SPECTROMAXx. This is state-of-the-art quality equipment utilizing the latest in CCD technology. It is further enhanced with an innovative optical and ICAL logic system which is able to provide us with reliable and repeatable results.

Optical Emission Spectroscopy can be used for various types of analysis. But mostly, OES is used for doing chemical analysis of metals. Analysis could be done on almost all the elements in periodic table which are preferred in the industry these days.

ITS follows and utilizes following ASTM standards for testing:

• A 751 - Standard Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for Chemical Analysis of Steel Products
  
  
• E 115 - Practice for Photographic Processing in Optical Emissions Spectrographic Analysis 
  
  
• E 415 - Test Method for Optical Emission Vacuum Spectrometric Analysis of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel.
  
  
• E 634 - Practice for sampling Zinc and Zinc alloys for Optical Emissions Spectrometric Analysis.
  
  
• E 716 - Practices for Sampling Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys for Spectrochemical Analysis.
  
  
• E 1009 - Practice for Evaluating an Optical Emission Vacuum Spectrometer to analyze carbon and Low-Alloy Steel
  
  
• E 1086 - Test Method for Optical Emission Vacuum Spectrometric Analysis of Stainless Steel by Point-to-Point Excitation Technique.
  
  
• E 1999 - Test Method for Analysis of Cast Iron using Optical Emissions Spectrometry.