Determination of Alloyed Elements in Special Steel by Fluorescent X-ray Spectrometry

Abstract

Fluorescent X-ray spectrometry was successfully applied to the determination of alloying elements in special steels, including super-heat-resistant alloys, as follows:
Tungsten, 2 to 19% in high speed steel, 3 to 5% in super-heat-resistant alloy, and 2 to 9% a in a low-alloy steel, were determined with standard deviation of 0·34%, 0·16%, 0·083% tungsten, respectively. Molybdenum, 1 to 8% in high speed steel, 3 to 5% in super-heatresistant alloy, and 0·2 to 0·7% in low-alloy steel, was determined with standard deviation of 0·15%, 0·11%, 0·018% molybdenum, each. Cobalt, 2 to 12% in high speed steel, was determined with standard deviation of 0·15% cobalt. Vanadium, 1 to 5% in high speed steel, was determined with standard deviation of 0·053% vanadium. Nickel, 7 to 14% in stainless steel, 18 to 22 in super-heat-resistant alloy, and 0·2 to 3% in low-alloy steel, was determined with standard deviation of 0·074%, 0·096%, 0·056% nickel, respectively. Chromium, 13 to 22% in stainless steel, 18 to 22% in super-heat-resistant alloy, and 0·2 to 5% in low-alloy steel, was determined with standard deviation of 0·081%, 0·087%, 0·056% chromium, each. Niobium, 0·5 to 5% in super-heat-resistant alloy, was determined with standard deviation of 0·060% niobium.
The method was found to be very simple, rapid, and accurate, enough to be applicable for a routine analysis of these alloying elements in many types of special steel samples.