ASTM_E_1085_-_16.pdf

Designation:E108516Standard Test Method forAnalysis of Low-Alloy Steels by Wavelength DispersiveX-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1085;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers the wavelength dispersiveX-ray fluorescence analysis of low-alloy steels for the follow-ing elements:ElementMass FractionRange,%Calcium0.001 to 0.007Chromium0.04 to 2.5Cobalt0.03 to 0.2Copper0.03 to 0.6Manganese0.04 to 2.5Molybdenum0.005 to 1.5Nickel0.04 to 3.0Niobium0.002 to 0.1Phosphorus0.010 to 0.08Silicon0.06 to 1.5Sulfur0.009 to 0.1Vanadium0.012 to 0.6NOTE1Unless exceptions are noted,mass fraction ranges can beextended and additional elements can be included by the use of suitablereference materials and measurement conditions.Deviations from thepublished scope must be validated by experimental means.See GuideE2857 for information on validation options.1.2 The values stated in the International System of Units(SI)are to be regarded as standard.The values given inparentheses are mathematical conversions to other units thatare provided for information only,because they may used inolder software and laboratory procedures.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.Specific precau-tionary statements are given in Section 10.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data toDetermine Conformance with SpecificationsE135 Terminology Relating to Analytical Chemistry forMetals,Ores,and Related MaterialsE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test MethodE1361 Guide for Correction of Interelement Effects inX-Ray Spectrometric AnalysisE1621 Guide for Elemental Analysis by Wavelength Disper-sive X-Ray Fluorescence SpectrometryE2857 Guide for Validating Analytical Methods3.Terminology3.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method,refer toTerminology E135.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 The test specimen is finished to a clean uniform surfaceand then irradiated with a primary X-ray beam of high energy.The secondary X-rays produced are dispersed by means ofcrystals,and the intensities(also called count rates)aremeasured by suitable detectors at selected wavelengths.Radia-tion measurements are made based on the time required toreach a fixed number of counts,or on the total counts obtainedfor a fixed time.Mass fractions of the elements are determinedby relating the measured intensities from unknown specimensto analytical curves prepared with suitable reference materials.Either a fixed-channel,polychromator system or a sequential,wavelength dispersive monochromator system may be used toprovide simultaneous or sequential determinations of elements,respectively.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E01 onAnalytical Chemistry for Metals,Ores,and Related Materials and is the directresponsibility of Subcommittee E01.01 on Iron,Steel,and Ferroalloys.Current edition approved May 1,2016.Published June 2016.Originallyapproved in 1987.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as E1085 09.DOI:10.1520/E1085-16.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 5.Significance and Use5.1 This test method is suitable for manufacturing controland for verifying that a product meets specifications.This testmethod provides rapid,multi-element determinations withsufficient accuracy to ensure product quality and to minimizeproduction delays.The analytical performance data may beused as a benchmark to determine if similar X-ray spectrom-eters provide equivalent precision and accuracy,or if theperformance of a particular X-ray spectrometer has changed.5.2 Calcium is sometimes added to steel to affect inclusionshape to enhance certain mechanical properties of steel.Thistest method is useful for determining the residual calcium inthe steel after such treatment.5.2.1 Because calcium occurs primarily in inclusions,theprecision of this test method is a function of the distribution ofthe calcium-bearing inclusions in the steel.The variation ofdeterminations on freshly prepared surfaces will give someindication of the distribution of these inclusions.6.Interferences6.1 Interelement or matrix effects may exist fo