Element analysis of:
• Iron & steel alloys and traces
• Nitrogen in steel
• Aluminum alloys and traces
• Copper alloys and traces
• Oxygen in Copper
• Nickel alloys and traces
• Cobalt alloys and traces
• Magnesium alloys and traces
• Tin alloys and traces
• Lead alloys and traces
• Titanium alloys and traces

Cleanliness determination and Inclusion Analysis in Steels with Q8 MAGELLAN & MCI

The present production of steels shows demanding requirements for quality, especially the needs for homogeneity and cleanliness are increasing. The key to premium steel products is best cleanliness degrees and lowest levels of Oxygen. The classic way to determine non-metallic inclusions is usually using metallographic microscope and scanning electron microscope with EDX analysis (SEM-EDX). These methods are slow and cost-intensive applications. Using optical emission spectroscopy with pulse discrimination analysis (OES-PDA) means fast and efficient determination of the cleanliness degree and oxygen level. During the melting process these quality indicators are available and allow the process control in real-time.

In addition, a fast quality check of the final product is one of the main advantages of this method. For this purpose, Bruker Elemental has developed the software package MCI, “Metal- Cleanliness-Inspection” for the spark spectrometer Q8 MAGELLAN. The MCI-Software evaluates on a statistical basis the sparks, which are caused by non-metallic inclusions. The main features are the determination of:

• Total oxygen content
• Oxide and sulphide inclusions
• Grain size distribution of different oxide and sulphide types (e.g. alumina, Ca-aluminate, Mg-spinel)

Purity evaluation of materials at the incoming inspection with Q8 MAGELLAN & MCI
Using the Q8 MAGELLAN – Bruker Elemental’s optical emission spectrometer, in conjunction with our MCI software package – to determine the purity of materials at incoming inspection enables accurate assessment and classification of suppliers and their delivery quality, leading to optimized margins. For critical products, such as those in the aerospace or wind energy business, the selection of the right materials and material grades is of utmost importance. Defective materials associated with critical components that fail can cause entire plant production lines to halt. Selecting the proper materials and ensuring their delivery is crucial. To reduce these critical failures, high quality materials with excellent purity levels are required, and a company’s ability to reject substandard materials is essential for success.

Quality and safety are maximized with proper materials. However, this is in contrast to the economic analysis where the margin is always in the foreground. Striking a balance between optimal quality and margin is necessary in every industry: use as much as necessary – but use as little as possible. Especially in a world where globalized goods traffic is the norm, the assessment of suppliers and their delivery quality is difficult, but making an accurate analysis of supply sources and grades of material is required. Knowing which supplier consistently provides a particular grade of material demonstrates a supplier’s reliability and a classification is possible: material suppliers can be ranked A, B or C, and purchasing costs are reduced. A sampling of materials during incoming inspection will give approximate values, but in order to achieve a robust classification with regard to delivered quality and purity, it is necessary to perform a comprehensive examination of the material. Ideally, a complete examination of the materials should be performed when the material is received.

Using a detailed analysis and the knowledge of who can provide that quality at what price, the optimization of margins is ultimately possible. Previously, the method for evaluating the degree of purity was by using a microscope or scanning electron microscope (SEM -EDX ). This method required a significant effort, was costly, and was time consuming, allowing for only partial sample reviews. But now, Bruker Elemental offers a tool to expedite the process. The Q8 MAGELLAN can give information about the purity level and the oxygen content of a material, in addition to determining its chemical composition. The review of the optical spark emission spectrometry can be done along with the usual element analysis. The time required is negligible (a few seconds), sample preparation is very simple, and the evaluation can be performed on the same equipment.