Zinc Detection in Nitrocellulose Using the Sci-Trace

Unstable materials such as nitrocellulose pose significant challenges for traditional analytical techniques due to their reactivity. Despite these properties, rapid and reliable elemental analysis remains essential, especially in applications where time, safety, and sample integrity are critical.

In a recent test, we successfully demonstrated the ability of our Sci-Trace to quantify zinc directly in a nitrocellulose matrix. The measurement was performed without any destructive sample preparation or chemical processing, confirming the suitability of LIBS for direct, contactless elemental analysis of sensitive compounds.

The quantification of zinc is particularly relevant in this context, as zinc compounds are sometimes added to nitrocellulose formulations as stabilizers, helping to neutralize acidic degradation products formed over time. Alternatively, zinc may be present as a residual impurity originating from the manufacturing process. For both safety and quality control, reliable detection of such elements is essential.

In this case, Zinc concentration was determined using a simple calibration curve based on reference materials, yielding a strong linear correlation. The result obtained with Sci-Trace closely matched the value measured by AAS, confirming the accuracy and reliability of the method.

The measurement demonstrated that unlike conventional techniques that require extensive sample preparation or may pose safety risks when handling unstable materials, Sci-Trace offers a fast and efficient alternative as it is up to 40 times faster than AAS. Thanks to its ability to perform rapid, multi-element analysis without sample preparation, a single Sci-Trace can match the throughput of approximately 33 AAS instruments. This makes it particularly suitable for environments where speed, simplicity, and safety are critical. The ability to obtain accurate quantitative data directly from energetic samples significantly expands the analytical possibilities.