A comprehensive scheme for the analysis of a wide range of steels by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

Abstract

The determination of manganese, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, copper, vanadium, cobalt, titanium, tin, aluminium and lead in steel by a direct atomic-absorption method, which involves a single dissolution based on perchloric acid, is described. The scheme effects considerable savings in time compared with traditional methods, and is of comparable accuracy.

The serious depressive interferences caused by iron on the response of some elements are overcome in the nitrous oxide-acetylene flame, and minor effects are corrected for by inclusion of iron in calibration standards. No other inter-elemental interferences were encountered in perchloric acid based solutions in the presence of iron.

Silicon and tungsten, which are not retained in solution in this scheme, are determined after a separate dissolution of the sample.

Results obtained with British Chemical Standard steels are tabulated, and accuracies discussed.