Effect of microstructure of metals in the emission spectroscopic analysis

Abstract

The emission spectroscopic analysis of high carbon low alloy steels is affected considerably by metallurgical history of samples. For the purpose of eliminating the matrix effect in their quantometric analysis, the relation between the emission characteristics and the microstructure of steels was investigated. The results obtained were as follows.
(1) As for the determination of Si and Mn in high carbon low alloy steels, the distinct difference between. quantometric and chemical values caused by the formation of austenite and martensite in the quenching process could be removed by tempering the specimen.
(2) The investigation of discharge craters showed. that the discharge occurred preferentially at the crystalline carbide grains of the quenched steel. The intensity of spectrum lines of carbide-forming elements, such as Mn, Cr, Mo, etc., was thus enhanced, and the higher values were obtained in quantometric determination. However, this effect could also be eliminated by the heat treatment.