Some topical applications of plasma atomic spectrochemical methods for theanalysis of ceramic powders

The scope of a number of plasma spectrochemical methods for the determinati on of the main components and impurities in ceramic powders is described. T hese methods meet the requirements for the analytical characterization of n ew structural and functional ceramics for modern industrial applications an d electronic devices. For ceramic powders, spectrochemical analysis with di rect methods as well as analysis subsequent to sample dissolution are discu ssed. Fusion is a powerful method for the dissolution of ZrO2 ceramic powde rs, provided the fluxes are pure enough. For determinations in Al2O3, SiC a nd ZrO2, it will be shown that ICP-MS is very useful. This is especially tr ue for trace analysis after matrix removal. The latter can easily be perfor med on-line in the case of the analysis of Al2O3 powders. For direct analys is of ceramic powders, the direct insertion of samples into the plasma, spa rk and are ablation, laser ablation, electrothermal vaporization and slurry nebulization are discussed. Particular attention is given to the direct an alysis of ceramics in powder form (Al2O3, SiC, Si3N4, B-4, WC) using ICP-OE S with slurry nebulization as well as with direct sample insertion (DSI) an d with electrothermal vaporization (ETV). For the two latter methods, the u se of chemical modifiers for volatile compound formation will be shown to b e of great importance, and its features will be explained using thermochemi cal considerations.