The advantages of a 2-methods-in-1 materials analysis solution combining optical microscopy and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for simultaneous visual and chemical inspection are described. The basic principles of the 2-in-1 solution and a comparison between it and other common materials analysis methods, such scanning electron microscopy (SEM), are explained to demonstrate how a rapid, efficient workflow is achieved. A 2-in-1 analysis solution can reduce significantly the cost and time for obtaining material image and composition data. Such data are instrumental in assuring quality and reliability to make confident decisions quickly during production, quality assurance and control, failure analysis, and research and development in industries such as automotive and metallurgy.
A large number of products and applications require materials analysis. Examples are found in the metal alloy, automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries [1,2], as well as the fields of metallurgy/metallography [3,4], earth science [5], and materials science. Finding a balance between the need to ensure product quality or reliability of research results and the cost of analysis becomes a serious concern.