Handheld XRF & LIBS Analyzers for PMI & NDT
SciAps X-ray (XRF) and laser (LIBS) analyzers have revolutionized positive material identification (PMI) and non-destructive testing (NDT) with carbon-testing capability, size, speed, connectivity, and a full range of testing applications. Whether you're verifying weld chemistry in a fab shop, running in-ditch pipeline checks, screening for sulfidic corrosion in a refinery, or measuring flow-accelerated corrosion in a power plant, there's a SciAps analyzer built for the job. This page covers every SciAps analyzer used in PMI and NDT, how each applies to your work, and how to choose between X-ray and laser.
Why Inspectors Choose SciAps for PMI
PMI protects asset integrity, and the right tool depends on which elements you must confirm. SciAps gives you both technologies on one Android platform, with the ease of a smartphone:
Handheld XRF
The preferred, easiest-to-use tool for most PMI: stainless, Cr-Mo and low-alloy steels, nickels, titaniums, brasses/bronzes, plus sulfidic corrosion (silicon), residuals, and API 5L.
See detailsHandheld LIBS
The only handheld technology that measures carbon and carbon equivalents (CE), distinguishes L / straight / H-grade stainless, and handles flow-accelerated corrosion, all without an X-ray source.
See detailsHandheld XRF Analyzers for PMI & NDT
For the majority of PMI, where carbon isn't required, SciAps XRF is fast, rugged, and easy to train on. Every model shares one design, so fleets stay simple.
The Next-Generation PMI Standard
At 2.98 lbs. with battery, the X-550 is ultralight, blazing fast, and the most articulate X-ray gun ever made – perfectly balanced for thousands of tests a day without fatigue, with a long, narrow snout for hard-to-reach welds and rope-access work. Most tests finish in under 1 second. Pre-configured on-board apps handle the demanding applications: sulfidic corrosion (API 939) measuring 0.1% Si in under 7 seconds, residuals (API 751) for low Cu+Cr+Ni, API 5L for low Ti/V/Nb/Mo, and fast aluminum-alloy verification via the patented Aluminum App.
Premium Precision, Lower Price
The X-505 delivers the same transition- and heavy-metal speed and precision as the X-550, and the same rugged, ergonomic frame. The only difference is a few extra seconds on the low-atomic-number elements (Mg, Al, Si, P, S) – an excellent PMI choice for shops that don't need the fastest silicon or aluminum tests.
The Value Workhorse for Daily PMI
Widely used across NDT and scrap, the X-200 matches the X-550's speed and precision on most applications, with modest trade-offs on sulfidic-corrosion silicon (0.1% Si in ~10s vs ~5s) and aluminum magnesium. Lightweight at 3.1 lbs. with a slightly snub-nose form factor, it's the best value on the market for high-performance XRF where blazing Si/Mg speed isn't mission-critical.
Economical Common-Alloy Verification
For verification of common stainless (no carbon), Cr-Mo and low-alloy steels, nickels and other high-temp alloys, brasses, and bronzes, the X-50 is the economical choice. It does not measure Mg, Al, Si, P, or S, so it's ideal when those light elements aren't part of your scope.
Economical Transition & Heavy-Metal PMI
For many NDT/PMI jobs that require verification of low-alloy, Cr/Mo steels, stainless, and corrosion-resistant alloys, the X-5 often delivers excellent performance. Alloy applications include sorting stainless steels, high-temp alloys, and red metals, with a cost-effective SDD detector for users who don't need light-element analysis.
Handheld LIBS Analyzers for Carbon & Advanced PMI
SciAps Z-Series is the only laser (LIBS) technology precise enough for NDT/PMI across all alloy bases. The key is a powerful, high-frequency laser paired with on-board Optipurge™ argon purge, which boosts signal 10× or more over air-burn – and about 100× for the deep-UV carbon line at 193.1 nm, making handheld carbon analysis possible.
World's Only Handheld Carbon Analyzer
The Z-902 Carbon measures carbon content and carbon equivalents in steels, distinguishes L- and H-grade stainless, identifies low-carbon nickel superalloys (718LC, MarM 247/248 LC), and measures cast irons and cast steels, down to about 0.007% carbon for verifying 316L. It also handles residuals (Cr, Cu, Ni plus carbon), sulfidic corrosion (0.05% Si in ~3 seconds for API 939), and flow-accelerated corrosion (0.03% Cr LOD in a 3-second test). One analyzer covers carbon, Si, residuals, and FAC.
Argon-Purge Alloy PMI & the CSi Option
The Z-901 delivers fast, precise alloy PMI with on-board argon purge on every test. The Z-901 CSi is an ultra-compact, dedicated carbon-and-silicon analyzer – the ideal complement if you already own handheld XRF for common alloy elements (Cr, V, Mn, Ni, Cu, Mo, Nb) and only need to add C and Si for carbon equivalents or L-vs-H stainless. It also detects down to 10 ppm Be and B in aluminum alloys.
The PMI OneBox:X-550 + Z-902 Carbon
The ultimate PMI package pairs the X-550 (stainless, high temps, brasses/bronzes, specialty alloys, plus Mg/Al/Si/P/S) with the Z-902 Carbon (carbon, CE, L-grades, cast irons, residuals). Between them you cover carbon and the low-atomic-number elements X-ray does best – the most complete handheld PMI toolkit available, sharing batteries, charger, and cables in one case.
Explore the OneBox
PMI Data in SciAps Cloud+
Every reading from every analyzer on the job syncs to Cloud+ in seconds – chemistry, grade match, spectra and photos, all in your browser. Push grade libraries, test-info templates and user logins to the whole fleet, and merge XRF and LIBS readings of the same part into one result: where XRF alone reads 303, adding LIBS carbon gives the merged grade, 304L.
Explore Cloud+Which PMI Tool for Which Job?
| Application | X-Ray | Laser | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon in steels, stainless, nickels | No | Z-902 Carbon | X-ray cannot measure carbon at all |
| P, S in steels/stainless | X-550 | No | LIBS cannot yet measure P/S in iron/stainless |
| Sulfidic corrosion (Si < 0.1%) | X-550 (~5–7s) | Z-902 Carbon (~3s) | X-ray often preferred for ease of use; LIBS is faster |
| Flow-accelerated corrosion (Cr < 0.03%) | X-550 | Z-902 Carbon (~3s) | LIBS often preferred where X-ray regs are onerous (nuclear) |
| Residuals (API 751) | X-550 | Z-902 Carbon (adds carbon) | LIBS can drop Cr from the formula when carbon < 0.18% |
| Common alloys (SS, Cr-Mo, nickels, Ti, brass) | X-550 / X-50 / X-5 | Z-902 Carbon | Most operators prefer X-ray for ease of use |
| Aluminum alloys | X-550 (Mg/Si/Al) | Z-902 (adds Li/Be/B) | Use LIBS when Li, Be, or B analysis is required |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a handheld analyzer measure carbon for PMI?
Yes – the SciAps Z-902 Carbon is the only handheld analyzer in the world that measures carbon content and carbon equivalents, distinguishing L-, straight-, and H-grade stainless and low-carbon nickel superalloys, down to about 0.007% carbon. It uses argon-purged LIBS, since the deep-UV carbon line requires argon to reach PMI-grade detection limits.
What's the best handheld analyzer for sulfidic corrosion (API 939)?
Both work: the X-550 measures 0.1% Si in under 7 seconds, and the Z-902 Carbon measures 0.05% Si in about 3 seconds. X-ray is often preferred for ease of use, while LIBS is faster and adds carbon capability in the same instrument.
Why use LIBS instead of XRF for flow-accelerated corrosion in a power plant?
FAC requires measuring chromium down to about 0.03%, which the Z-902 Carbon does in a 3-second test. Because nuclear and power facilities often face onerous X-ray licensing and inspection requirements, the laser-based Z avoids that regulatory burden entirely while also measuring carbon and CE.
How much does argon cost per test on a SciAps LIBS analyzer?
The user-replaceable argon canister in the Z's handle delivers roughly 600 burns (about 200 averaged carbon tests), at approximately 1–3 cents per test – versus about 25 cents per test and a cumbersome tank on traditional spark OES.