Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM
Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM
Materialanalyse von Feststoffen
© Fraunhofer IPM
The LIBS method can be used to determine the composition of metal or concrete. It also enables the analysis of hazardous substances such as asbestos or trace elements or the metal content in rocks.

Inspecting layer thickness, analyzing element composition

Our ANALIZE systems determine coating thickness and compositions on the component surface based on laser-induced plasma spectroscopy – within milliseconds per measuring point.

© Fraunhofer IPM

ANALIZEsingle & ANALIZEmulti

Materials testing with LIBS

Many production processes require the thickness and composition of coatings or surface materials to be inspected. Fraunhofer IPM relies on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to analyze the thickness and elemental composition of coatings and solid materials.

The LIBS method uses a short-pulse laser to transfer a tiny amount of the surface material – usually just a few µm3 – into a plasma for spectral analysis. This plasma emits a material-specific light spectrum. The spectral light distribution is recorded in real time. The element distribution at the measuring point is determined on the basis of the spectral data.

The LIBS method is suitable for alloy analysis, coating inspection and layer thickness measurement within the range of nanometers to 100 micrometers. It also enables depth-resolved measurement of element composition.

The ANALIZEsingle and ANALIZEmulti systems for optical surface analysis capture the element composition at one point on the component surface within milliseconds per measuring point. The systems are suitable for measuring the composition and thickness of coatings as well as for determining the composition of bulk materials. 

 

The systems

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ANALIZEsingle: Fast and precise

ANALIZEsingle determines the thickness of coatings from the analysis of a single laser pulse by comparing the spectral signatures of the coating material and the component material from a single spectrum. The system accurately measures the thickness of coatings to ± 10%. Layers of 1 nm to 1 μm in thickness are investigated by this method. 

Fraunhofer IPM offers ANALIZEsingle as a lab system as well as for integration into the production line.

Inline system

The inline system is integrated into industrial processes (e.g. in sheet metal production) and is installed on a fast moving conveyor, for example. The optical access point is typically located on a deflection roller so that the position of the sheet metal with respect to the optics is well defined. At certain predefined times, a laser pulse is emitted and the spectrum is recorded. The spectra are evaluated in real-time so that information on the coating thickness or the composition of the material is available immediately.

Lab system

For lab analytics, the components to be analyzed are placed in the lab system. The spectra are taken fully automatically at previously defined positions. Similar to the inline system, the raw data is  evaluated immediately after the spectra are recorded. In the context of quality control, this enables the testing of random samples of components.

ANALIZEmulti: Coating analysis in three dimensions

ANALIZEmulti uses numerous laser pulses emitted in very quick succession to irradiate the measurement point on the component so that the element distribution is gradually recorded as a function of the depth. This yields a complete analysis of the composition of the coating and workpiece material as well as the coating thickness. 

ANALIZEmulti measures the thickness of coatings with an accuracy of ± 5%. Layers of 500 nm to 50 μm in thickness can be tested. In particular, it is possible with this method to fully characterize layer sequences of multilayer coatings on a component. With ANALIZEmulti, it is possible to determine the coating thickness in a few seconds and use it as a control parameter in subsequent processes. 

Designed as lab version, the system is used for the rapid analysis of random samples. After placing the component to be analyzed in the system, the spectra are taken fully automatically at previously defined positions. The spectra are evaluated directly after they are recorded so that information on the layer thickness or composition of the material is available immediately. In the context of quality control, this enables the testing of random samples of components.

Specific applications

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Inline-Elementanalyse: Elektroden für Li-Ionen-Batterien effizienter produzieren
© Fraunhofer IPM
Fraunhofer IPM und Fraunhofer ISIT haben auf Basis der LIBS-Technologie ein Inline-Messsystem entwickelt, mit dem die chemische Zusammensetzung beschichteter Elektrodenfolien punktweise in einer Art 3D-Mapping quantitativ erfasst werden kann.
Inline-Materialprüfung mit LIBS
© Fraunhofer IPM
Inline measurement of depth-resolved material composition

Material analysis in battery production and recycling

Inline process control for lithium recycling

The LIBS method can be used to measure lightweight elements such as lithium and graphite, as well as metals such as cobalt, nickel and manganese. It is therefore particularly suitable for applications in battery production and recycling. The measurement is performed by optical means only and can also be used on moving materials directly in production. Both solids and liquids can be measured.

Specific applications

  • Analysis of lithium content in solids and in solution
  • Homogeneity measurement of NMC, graphite, lithium in cathodes
  • Depth-resolved element distribution in the active material
  • Inline measurement

© Fraunhofer IPM
Imaging layer thickness measurement of a hardening layer on an indexable insert

Coating inspection and layer analysis

Fast, precise layer thickness measurement and alloy analysis

The LIBS method is suitable for alloy analysis, coating inspection and layer thickness measurement within the range of nanometers to 100 micrometers. It also enables depth-resolved measurement of element composition.

Specific applications

  • Imaging layer thickness measurement
  • Layer thicknesses 1 nm – 3 µm as single pulse measurement inline and offline
  • 1 µm – 100 µm as multi pulse measurement nearline
  • PVD/CVD galvanic layers 
  • Metallic dip coatings / spray coatings
  • Anti-corrosion coatings

Materialanalyse von Feststoffen
© Fraunhofer IPM
Rock analysis using the ANALIZE system

Solids analysis

Identifying composition – analyzing hazardous substances

The LIBS method can be used to determine the composition of metal or concrete. It also enables the analysis of hazardous substances such as asbestos or trace elements or the metal content in rocks.

Specific applications

  • Inline element analysis
  • Determination of trace elements in rock, sand, concrete
  • Detection of asbestos

Further information

 

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Fraunhofer Magazine 3.2023 (Excerpt)

Tapping into a new lithium source

Using the LIBS method, we can determine the lithium concentration in water. This helps both in the harvesting of lithium and in its recycling from used batteries.

read article