Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, today announced a new ultra-fast method for characterizing steel cleanness by analyzing inclusions using optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The method, which uses the Thermo Scientific Spark-DAT option on the Thermo Scientific ARL 4460 Metals Analyzer, significantly enhances the capabilities of the instrument and offers a faster and more cost-effective alternative to existing methods of characterizing steel cleanness.

Inclusions can affect the properties and the quality of steel, making their control vital. The Spark-DAT option enables steel manufacturers to identify, characterize and count inclusions in only a few seconds, making it highly effective for steel production. The advanced Spark-DAT option features a unique methodology and software technology and offers a range of innovative applications for the characterization of steel cleanness. These applications include the determination of inclusion size and distribution and the quantitative analysis of total oxygen content at concentrations of 30ppm and below in killed steel samples.

The Spark-DAT option offers a range of advantages for steelmaking plants. By enabling the fast determination of steel composition, inclusion characterization and accurate total oxygen content simultaneously on a single OES instrument, initial investment costs are significantly reduced.

In addition, as analysis times are almost unchanged compared to standard OES, up to 30 samples can typically be analyzed per hour. The sample and its surface preparation, as well as the instrument maintenance and consumables, are also unchanged, ensuring low operating costs.

The Spark-DAT option on the Thermo Scientific ARL 4460 Metals Analyzer considerably enhances the OES technique and increases the versatility of the spectrometer. From routine use to research, Spark-DAT provides a quick, simple and cost-effective solution for inclusion analysis in the steel industry.

For more information on this improved method of inclusion analysis in steel, please call +1 800-532-4752, email analyze@thermofisher.com or visit www.thermoscientific.com/sparkdat-fe.