title: Rapid, automated measurement of layer thicknesses on steel coin blanks using laser-induced-breakdown spectroscopy depth profiling.
abstract: We report application of a near-real-time method to determine layer thickness on electroplated coin blanks. The method was developed on a simple laser-induced-breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) arrangement by monitoring relative emission-line intensities from key probe elements via successive laser ablation shots. This is a unique LIBS application where no other current spectroscopic method (inductively coupled plasma or x-ray fluorescence) can be applied effectively. Method development is discussed, and results with precalibrated coins are presented.
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. gasim@auth.gr
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asimellis
authors.forename: Aggelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannoudakos
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kompitsas