Chemical Elemt's analysis could be the resolutive for complex analytical challenges. However, it must be evaluated in all the potentality and all the limits of the analysis should be considered before.

X Rays - SEM with microanalysis

Instruments
SEM instrument is not cheap, but is now more simple to use than in the past.

SEM microscopes can reach 100000 magnitude, or more, and X-rays allow to analyze semi-quantitatively the single chemical elements: electronic microscopy is an essential technique when we have to study phoenomena of bad disperision or migration and, anyway, where is necessary to study compositional dishomogeneity.

Measure
The analysis requests anyway an attention to 'micro' sampling and take some time for preparation and meaure. Actually there are systems which work on low-vacuum abd reduce the analysis times. 15-20 minutes are todey sometimes sufficient for obtaining good results.

ATOMIC ABSORPTION- PLASMA

Atomic Absoption is a traditional technique for quantitative measurement of chemical elements, reaching high sensitivity (ppm or ppb). If we are interested in a single element (for example, Sodium), to quanify with precision, atomic absorption is the right choose. Atomic absorption analyze a single element each time, ICP (plasma) many elements. Every technique has advantages or disadvantages, which should be considered.

Instrumentation
Control and mantainance are must; a very important aspect is the preparation of the sample, experience and literature analysis. Sometimes, if used without knowledge of eventual 'side-effects', results are 3 or 4 times higher or lower than the correct value !

SINGLE ELEMENTS SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES

Instruments
There are instruments and techniques which allow to mesure precisely some single elements. An example are C,H,N, S analyzer.

Depending on the choosen technique, the analysis could be easy, difficult, time consuming or quick. The need must be specific. Mantainence and consumable costs must be considered before the investment.

Dr. Maurizio Veronelli - Specialist in Polymer Science

RDLab137 srl - Milano

Last Revision: 09/01/2017