A novel gas analysis system for metallurgical materials based on time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A new analyzing system for gas analysis from metallurgical materials was developed by coupling a homemade electron ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (EI-TOFMS) with an inert gas fusion unit. A description of principle, configuration along with key features of the system especially the EI-TOFMS was presented. The properties of the EI-TOFMS were checked by the indoor air and standard gas sample, and the initial results for the system measuring of the steel samples show that oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and argon could be measured simultaneously and quantitatively at a detection limit of μg/g level.