ASTM_E_1251_-_11.pdf

Designation:E125111Standard Test Method forAnalysis of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys by SparkAtomic Emission Spectrometry1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1251;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.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.1.Scope1.1 This test method describes the analysis of aluminum andits alloys by atomic emission spectrometry.The aluminumspecimen to be analyzed may be in the form of a chill cast disk,casting,foil,sheet,plate,extrusion or some other wrought formor shape.The elements covered in the scope of this method arelisted in the table below.ElementTested Concentration Range(Wt%)Antimony0.001 to 0.003Arsenic0.001 to 0.006Beryllium0.0004 to 0.24Bismuth0.03 to 0.6Boron0.0006 to 0.009Calcium0.0002 to Chromium0.001 to 0.23Cobalt0.4 to Copper0.001 to 5.5Gallium0.02 to Iron0.2 to 0.5Lead0.04 to 0.6Lithium0.0003 to 2.1Magnesium0.03 to 5.4Manganese0.001 to 1.2Nickel0.005 to 2.6Phosphorus0.003 to Silicon0.07 to 16Sodium0.003 to 0.02Strontium0.03 to Tin0.03 to Titanium0.001 to 0.12Vanadium0.002 to 0.022Zinc0.002 to 5.7Zirconium0.001 to 0.12NOTE1The concentration ranges given in the above scope wereestablished through cooperative testing(ILS)of selected reference mate-rials.The range shown for each element does not demonstrate the actualusable analytical range for that element.The usable analytical range maybe extended higher or lower based on individual instrument capability,spectral characteristics of the specific element wavelength being used andthe availability of appropriate reference materials.NOTE2 Mercury(Hg)is intentionally not included in the scope.Analysis of Hg in aluminum by spark atomic emission spectrometry(Spark-AES)is not recommended.Accurate analysis of Hg using thistechnique is compromised by the presence of an intense iron interference.Inaccurate reporting of Hg due to these interference effects can jeopardizethe current designation of aluminum production as a mercury free process.To demonstrate compliance with legislated Hg content limits,use of analternate method capable of analysis with a minimum reporting limit of0.0001%or lower is recommended.Suitable techniques include but arenot limited to glow discharge mass spectrometry,XRF,and cold vaporAA.1.2 This test method is suitable primarily for the analysis ofchill cast disks as defined in Practices E716.Other forms maybe analyzed,provided that:(1)they are sufficiently massive toprevent undue heating,(2)they allow machining to provide aclean,flat surface,which creates a seal between the specimenand the spark stand,and(3)reference materials of a similarmetallurgical condition and chemical composition are avail-able.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 safety andhealth statements are given in Section 10.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E135 Terminology Relating to Analytical Chemistry forMetals,Ores,and Related MaterialsE158 Practice for Fundamental Calculations to ConvertIntensities into Concentrations in Optical Emission Spec-trochemical Analysis(Withdrawn 2004)3E172 Practice for Describing and Specifying the ExcitationSource in Emission SpectrochemicalAnalysis(Withdrawn2001)31This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E01 onAnalytical Chemistry for Metals,Ores,and Related Materials and is the directresponsibility of Subcommittee E01.04 on Aluminum and Magnesium.Current edition approved March 15,2011.Published June 2011.Originallyapproved in 1988.Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E1251 07.DOI:10.1520/E1251-11.2For 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.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 E305 Practice for Establishing and Controlling AtomicEmission Spectrochemical Analytical CurvesE406 Practice for Using Controlled Atmospheres in Spec-trochemical AnalysisE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test MethodE716 Practices for Sampling and Sample Preparation ofAluminum and Aluminum Alloys for Determination ofChemical Composition by Spectrochemical AnalysisE826 Practice for Testing Homogeneity of a Metal Lot orBatch in Solid Form by Spark Atomic Emissi