Retraction: Non-matrix matched calibration of element contents in stainless steel by using nanosecond and femtosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Accurate determination of trace elements is urgently required because of the influence of trace elements (such as Fe, Si, Mn, P, Cr, Mo, and V) on the properties of stainless steel. It is difficult to meet these requirements via the conventional analysis method. In the study, 12 trace elements in the stainless steel GBW01395 were analyzed via nanosecond (ns) and femtosecond (fs) laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Non-matrix matched calibration and different laser fluence values were applied in the quantitative analysis of element contents by using a silicate glass (GSE-1G) as non-matrix matched calibration sample (glass-metal) and 57Fe as an internal standard element. The experimental results indicated that the accuracies of determined element contents by fs-LA exceeded those obtained by ns-LA. The relative deviations of most elements via adjusting the laser fluence were less than 5% for fs-LA. Additionally, the effect of laser fluence on element fractionation was also explained by using time-sequence shadowgraphs of the laser ablation plume and the temperature and pressure of the shock wave front. The results indicated that techniques, such as fs-LA-ICP-MS and non-matrix matched calibration methods, can be successfully performed to determine trace elements in stainless steel.