Atomic spectrometry update. Industrial analysis: metals, chemicals and advanced materials

Simon Carter, Andy S. Fisher, Phill S. Goodall, Michael W. Hinds, Steve Lancaster and Sian Shore

This is the latest review covering atomic spectrometric measurements of industrial materials, metals, chemicals and advanced materials. It follows on from last year´s review and should be read in conjunction with other reviews in the series. This year has seen the departure of Brian Charlton, one of the writing team for two years. He has, however, been replaced by Simon Carter who is an able successor. Our thanks go to Brian for all of his hard work over the period.This year has again seen increased interest in nuclear applications, which is presumably a consequence of increased research funding in this area. Similarly, the number of applications involving nano-materials is also still increasing. The number of papers describing the analysis of glass and of ceramics is pretty much stable now, with both sets having a large number of archaeological applications. Much of the atomic spectrometry is not new, but the applications are still interesting because of the data analysis. Both sample types have required the increased use of solid sampling techniques to prevent sample damage. Similar chemometric techniques have also been used for forensic analyses of glasses. The use of LIBS is also still increasing since it offers a stand-off method of analysis, is easily automated and leads to no sample damage.