Accuracy of analysis of steels by use of a spark-source mass spectrometer with electrical detection.

ABSTRACT

The precision and accuracy of spark-source mass spectrometry with electrical detection has been studied, with five steel standard reference materials (NBS-SRM 661-665). Two different modes of analysis have been evaluated, magnetic scanning with electrical detection of the individual ions in sequence, using the total ion-current as reference, and magnetic switching between masses, with current integration. Measurements of isotope abundances have been used to evaluate the precision. The relative sensitivity coefficients of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, As, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sb, La, Ta and W have been determined vs. iron as an internal standard. The accuracy of analyses based on these experimentally measured relative sensitivity coefficients was confirmed by comparing the results for a pure iron sample with those obtained by neutron-activation analysis.