Determination of iron in Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4 by differential-pulse polarography

Abstract

The alloy sample was dissolved in hydrofluoric acid and a portion of the resulting stock solution was heated with sulphuric acid to remove fluoride ion. Tin(II) chloride solution was then added to ensure complete reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺. Solid sodium citrate was added to form a citrate complex with Fe²⁺. The polarographic peak of the Fe²⁺-citrate complex was then used as a measure of the percentage of iron in Zircaloy alloys.