The determination of trace amounts of aluminium and other elements in iron and steel by atomic-absorption spectrometry with carbon furnace atomisation

Abstract

A simple and rapid method is described for the determination of 0·0002–0·01 per cent. of acid-soluble aluminium and 0·0005–0·005 per cent. of acid-insoluble aluminium in iron and steel by using atomic-absorption spectrometry with carbon furnace atomisation. Samples are dissolved in nitric acid and analysed directly without pre-concentration. An initial investigation into the possibility of determining zinc, magnesium, manganese, vanadium, nickel and bismuth at the parts per million level in steel by a similar technique is also described and interferences are discussed.