SEDL / STP / STP221-EB / STP39561S

Emission Spectrometric Determination of Oxygen in Metals

Fassel, VA
Institute for Atomic Research and Department of Chemistry, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa

Gordon, WA
Institute for Atomic Research and Department of Chemistry, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa

Tabeling, RW
Jarrell-Ash Co., Newtonville, Mass.

Pages: 20    Published: Jan 1958

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Abstract

The problems encountered in extending emission spcctrometric methods to the determination of the oxygen content of metals are surveyed and several techniques for surmounting some of these problems are discussed. Methods for the determination of oxygen in steel, titanium, the rare earths, and other metals are presented in detail. These procedures are based on the liberation of the oxygen content of the metal into an argon atmosphere by the high temperatures attained in direct-current arc discharges. The intensity ratio of the line pair 07771 Å/A7891Å is related to the oxygen content of the metal sample. The procedures described determine oxygen with a precision comparable to vacuum fusion or bromination — carbon reduction techniques and have the advantage of greatly reduced time requirements.