REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR THE QUANTITATION OF α-QUARTZ IN RESPIRABLE DUST BY X-RAY DIFFRACTION

Abstract

Two specifications are given for an α-quartz reference material suitable for use by the international occupational hygiene community in the quantitation of α-quartz in respirable dust by the X-ray diffraction method. The specifications are based on results obtained in a detailed investigation of the properties of respirable-size α-quartz samples from 12 different geological and commercial sources. The properties investigated were amorphous surface content, crystallinity index, preferred orientation, and particle size distribution.