We report the development of a new, real-time non-contacting monitor for cleaning verification based on tunable infrared-laser methods. New analytical capabilities are required to maximize the efficiency of cleaning operations at a variety of federal (Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Energy (DOE)) and industrial facilities. These methods will lead to a reduction in the generation of waste streams while improving the quality of subsequent processes and the long-term reliability of manufactured, repaired or refurbished parts. We have demonstrated the feasibility of tunable infrared-laser imaging for the detection of contaminant residues common to DoD and DOE components. The approach relies on the technique of infrared reflection spectroscopy for the detection of residues. An optical interface for the laser-imaging method was constructed, and a series of test surfaces was prepared with known amounts of contaminants. Independent calibration of the laser reflectance images was performed with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The performance of both optical techniques was evaluated as a function of several variables, including the amount of contaminant, surface roughness of the panel, and the presence of possible interfering species (such as water). Finally, detection limits for generic hydrocarbon contaminants were evaluated as a function of system noise level.
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