Investigations on laser ablation-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry using polymer samples

The potential of laser ablation-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (LA-MIP-AES) for the analysis of plastic materials has been investigated. A Nd/YAG laser, operated in its fundamental mode at 1064 nm, was used to ablate small amounts of various plastics. The sample atoms were transported and excited in a closely neighbored continuously running microwave induced plasma (MIP) operated in argon or helium at reduced pressure. A 0.5-m echelle spectrometer, equipped with an intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) as a detector was used for recording the spectra. The amount of ablated material was found to be strongly dependent on the matrix (10-190 ng/shot). Signals for some metals often used as additives in polymers (Al, Ca, Cu, Sb, Ti) and for the elements F, Cl, Br, J, and P in various polymers were recorded in the spectral range 250-840 nm. The estimated detection limits were found to be in the range 0.001-0.08% for metals and 0.05-0.7% for non-metals. Spectral lines of fluorine and iodine could only be measured in the helium MIP. For high concentrations of chlorine and carbon in the samples (polyvinylchloride), a memory effect was observed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.