A METHOD FOR THE SPECTROGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF TRACE IMPURITIES IN NIOBIUM

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1959 · Appl. Spectroscopy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1366/000370259774615031· OSTI ID:4169220

Fornwalt, D E; Healy, M K

A method is described for the spectrographic determination of 14 elements present in niobium. The elements determined and their concentration ranges include: boron, 0.0001 to 0.0015%; aluminum, cadmium, chromium. cobalt, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, tin, and titanium, 0.001 to 0.1%; tantalum, 0.025 to 1.5%; and zirconium, 0.001 to 1.5%. The analysis involves the conversion of niobium to the oxide by heating the metal in platinum at 800 deg C until oxidation is complete. A 10 mg sample plus 10 mg of lithium carbonate, as a spectrographic buffer, and 25 mu g of lanthanum, as an internal standard, is excited in a 20-amp d-c arc. The spectrogram obtained is used for the determination of all the elements listed with the exception of aluminum, boron, silicon, zirconium, and tantalum. The latter are determined from a spectrogram obtained by the excitation of a separate 20 mg sample of niobium oxide. The coefficient of variation is of the order of 10% for the various impurities. (auth)

• Research Organization: Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Div., Middletown, Conn.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-14-014750
• OSTI ID: 4169220
• Journal Information: Appl. Spectroscopy, Journal Name: Appl. Spectroscopy Vol. Vol: 13
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALUMINUM
BORON
CADMIUM
CHEMISTRY
CHROMIUM
COBALT
ELECTRIC ARCS
EXCITATION
HEATING
IMPURITIES
IRON
LANTHANUM
LITHIUM CARBONATES
MANGANESE
MEASURED VALUES
METALS
MOLYBDENUM
NICKEL
NIOBIUM
NIOBIUM OXIDES
OXIDATION
PLATINUM
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
SILICON
SPECTRA
STANDARDS
TANTALUM
TIN
TITANIUM
VARIATIONS
ZIRCONIUM