Fusion method for preparation of refractory nickel based alloy powders for X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract

A fusion method for the preparation of refractory powders for X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, consisting of nickel based alloys is presented. The optimum conditions for the successful production of homogeneous stable glass discs by fusion were established. The sample preparation procedure was developed on the basis of a dilithium tetraborate flux with the addition of lithium carbonate and potassium–sodium carbonate in appropriate proportions and sodium nitrate as an oxidizing agent.The major elements Fe, Cr, Si and Ni were determined by comparison with synthetic calibration standards following the same procedure as for the test samples. The accuracy of the XRF analysis was checked by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and no statistically significant difference between the standard deviations of the two methods was found.