Determination of trace elements in steel by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A rapid quantitative analysis of the trace elements in steel by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is described. The conditions for laser ablation and normalization methods to improve the analytical precision are given. The optimum conditions for laser ablation were achieved when the ion yield was a maximum at the focus position in the fixed Q pulse mode, and above the focus position in the Q-switched pulse mode. It was found that the fixed Q pulse mode was most suitable for the determination of trace metal elements in steel, and that the Q-switched pulse mode was most suitable for both non-metallic elements and elements with a high boiling-point. In order to improve the analytical precision for those elements with a strong background intensity, normalization methods with both the matrix ion, 57Fe+, and 38Ar+ are proposed.