A private laboratory specialized in the analysis, testing and failure analysis of materials since 1993

Definition :

Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES) is used to perform chemical analysis and surface profiles on solid conductive materials.

Principle :

A GDOES is made up of a discharge lamp, an optical spectrometer, and a data acquisition & processing system.
The sample is put on a copper electrode (so the sample is the cathode, the copper the anode).

The discharge is applied between the anode and the cathode, that triggers off a sample surface erosion. Atoms ejected are then excited by an Argon plasma, and finally come back to their fundamental energy level, emitting a characteristic X photon.

Emitted photons, whose energy is characteristic of a chemical element’s energy level, are then collected by photomultipliers, that allows to quantify elemental composition of a material.

Two types of analyses can be performed :
- surface profile analysis : signal from each chemical element as a function of erosion time
- bulk analysis : global chemical analysis

Principle of the GD-OES analysis
WC/C + TiAlN multilayer on steel substrate

Set-up :

Jobin Yvon 5000 RF

Bulk analysis programs : steels, cast irons, stainless steels, aluminum alloys, brazing alloys, copper-aluminum alloys

Elements detected from Hydrogen

Detection limits : depending on each program, contact us for more information

Qualitative programs for all types of conductive samples (up to 10 µm deep).


For more information, contact us directly to exchange technically on your project !