Manufacturing support using ESCA to measure passivation layer on stainless steel

Materials Analysis - Cleanliness Testing Lab

Innovatech Labs, Inc.
13805 First Ave. North
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Plymouth, MN 55441

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Innovatech Labs provides manufacturing support by determining the quality of the passivation layer by measuring the chromium to iron ratios by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA or XPS). In industries utilizing stainless steel in manufacturing or manufacturing processes, it is often critical to obtain a chromium oxide rich layer on the surface of the stainless steel to prevent rusting. Innovatech Labs provides manufacturing support by determining the quality of this passivation layer by measuring the chromium to iron ratios by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA or XPS). Below we have outlined a typical analysis of the passivation layer on stainless steel by ESCA.

Measuring the passivation layer on stainless steel is just one of the many ways Innovatech Labs helps our customers maintain high quality in their manufacturing processes. Contact us to discuss your specific analytical needs.

Passivated Stainless Steel

Technique Used: ESCA (also known as XPS)

The surface chemistry and thickness of stainless steel passivation layers (usually chromium oxide) can be measured using Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA). The advantage of ESCA is it can provide not only a quantitative measurement of any surface impurities in the oxide layer, but information on the oxidation state of chromium and iron as well.

The oxidation of chromium and iron are of prime concern in the passivation of stainless steel to prevent the formation of rust. The example below shows an ESCA high resolution scan of chromium (Cr 2p3/2, top left) and iron (Fe 2p3/2, top right) regions as well as a sputter depth profile of the passivation layer. The ESCA sputter depth profile (bottom figure) of the passivation layer shows its thickness to be approximately 20 angstroms.

Innovatech Labs offers a broad range of cleanliness testing, surface analytical techniques, organic spectroscopies, bulk testing methods, and consulting services. Contact us for more information.