Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES), an Effectiveness Method for Characterizing Composition of Surfaces and Coatings

Abstract

Within the frame of this work, the technical procedures and real advantages of using Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GDOES) for establishing depth concentration profiles of surfaces are presented. GDOES can detect low concentrations with high accuracy. It can be used for either quantitative bulk analysis (QBA) or quantitative depth profiling (QDP) in the nanometer to micron range. Non-conductive and conductive samples can be analysed. The main applications of this spectral method are related to different technology fields such as: heat treatment processes, casting, heat and cold forming processes, thermochemical treatments, electro-chemical processes (galvanic coatings), chemical and physical vapour depositions (CVD, PVD), thermal oxidation processes and anodizing, thin-films and others.