High-throughput material characterization techniques: Near infrared and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

High throughput technologies such as near infrared, mid infrared and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy are very powerful techniques that can be used to characterize heterogeneous materials. They have been developed in various fields to investigate properties and processes and to control the quality of manufactured products. This chapter gives a brief description of diese technologies and some examples of their applications in the forest industry. Rapid methods to measure chemical composition and properties of materials and manufactured products are indispensable to control their quality and to optimize their processes. Analytical spectroscopy such as near infrared, mid infrared and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy are useful methods that can be developed as high throughput technologies and can be implemented as quality and process control tools in an industrial environment. These methods become outstandingly effective when coupled with statistic analysis to classify materials and predict their properties.