In this work, effects of plasma on different hardness of welding steel using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy were investigated. The ratios of ionic to atomic spectrum peaks were related to its material hardness. The major spectrum peak (Fe) and minor spectrum peak (Mn) were considered as monitoring elements. The stronger repulse plasma was generated, the harder material it was. The ratios of ionic to atomic spectrum peaks increased with respect to the material hardness as well. The correlation of minor spectrum peaks was stronger than that of major spectrum peaks. However, the major spectrum peaks indicated a similar trend, which could be used to estimate the hardness, too. Based on this result, the method could be used as a noncontact remote measurement of material properties.
