A chemical concentration method for the determination of niobium, zirconium and tantalum in carbon steel by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract

A chemical concentration technique is described for the simultaneous determination of small added amounts of zirconium and niobium (less than 0·05 per cent.) and residual amounts of tantalum (less than 0·01 per cent.) in carbon steel by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Separation from iron and other constituents is effected by precipitation with phenylarsonic acid; the precipitate is then collected on an organic membrane and X-ray measurement made either directly on the precipitate or after pelleting with poly(vinyl alcohol). The results obtained for niobium and zirconium in the test samples compare favourably with published values by other techniques.