Introduction
Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) alloys are rare earth-based permanent magnet materials valued for their excellent magnetic properties, making them essential in high-performance motors, electronics, medical devices, and green technologies like wind turbines and electric vehicles. The magnetic performance of these alloys depends heavily on the precise control of both major and additive elements, particularly boron. As demand for these materials rises, strict quality control in manufacturing is critical.
Inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) is widely used for elemental analysis due to its high matrix tolerance, multi-element analysis capability, low detection limit and wide dynamic range. However, analyzing NdFeB alloys presents challenges due to the high content of rare earth elements and iron, which cause spectral interferences, and the need for a robust plasma to ensure accurate results.
This work demonstrates the ability of the Avio® 550 Max fully simultaneous ICP-OES to accurately measure major and minor elements in an NdFeB alloy, leveraging its high-resolution mode along with its proprietary Multicomponent Spectral Fitting, Universal Data Acquisition and Flat Plate™ plasma technologies.
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