Method for rapid characterization of metallic powders

A method for characterization of metallic powder comprising:

• presenting a metallic powder sample to a laser and detector system, wherein the metallic powder sample passes through the laser and detector system via a sample introducer, wherein the sample introducer concentrates inclusions within the metallic powder sample;
• applying a pulsed laser beam to a first location in the metallic powder sample to provide a first micro-plasma at the first location in the metallic powder sample, when the pulsed laser beam terminates, the micro-plasma cools to provide spectral emissions at the first location;
• collecting the spectral emissions at the first location in the metallic powder sample with a detector;
• analyzing the spectral emissions at the first location to provide a spectral analysis dataset;
• and
• identifying the inclusions at the first location in the metallic powder sample.