ICP Testing

The ICP metal chemistry test lab capabilities at ASAP Metal Testing include the ability to test very small metal samples using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) test method.

The sample is digested using a high-pressure microwave digester
The solution is excited with a high-intensity flame
The excited valence electrons are counted for each element
The ICP computer converts the “counts” to weight percent for each element

Speak to a Metallurgist

ICP metal chemical testing technique has other unique capabilities:

Very small samples that cannot be tested by OES spectrographic analysis
Analysis of very low-concentration residual elements
The high degree of test reproducibility
Ability to create liquid standards for analysis of “specialty” non-steel alloys

A unique capability of ICP testing is to analyze non-steel metal alloys where commercially produced standards are not available. Once our chemists synthesize a standard (which can take a few days) our chemists then run the unknown sample against the synthesized standard for determination of the chemical composition. The best part is that the wet chemical standard is on the shelf for up to one year for testing additional samples. The formula that was used to synthesize the original standard can also be reused to recreate additional standards for many years.

Once a standard is on the shelf, the turn-around time for additional samples is very fast. The cost for repeat ICP wet chemistry is much lower than the original price for the test standard to be synthesized.

Industries that utilize non-standard grades for corrosion resistance or high strength-weight ratios analyzed via ICP wet chemical analysis are:

Orthopedic Implants
Aerospace Components
NASCAR & Formula One Engine Components
Bicycle Components
Dental Alloys
Electric Battery Technology
Research Applications for New Material Development

ASAP Metal Testing has many years of ICP testing experience and many specialty non-steel standards already synthesized. This permits us to turn around your production chemical testing very quickly. We can confirm your product conforms to the required chemical test requirements and is ready for shipping.