Abstract

A controlled source of excitation has been developed to eliminate selective volatilization and element interference effects encountered in the spectrochemical analysis of powders with the dc arc. A circular air jet, concentric with the sample electrode, was used to cool the unburned portion of the sample throughout the exposure and to stabilize the arc by surrounding it with a directed current of air. The effectiveness of the air jet was increased by placing the samples in deep narrow craters drilled in high-purity graphite electrodes. Uniform volatilization of even the volatile constituents was achieved and the spectral sensitivity of the elements was made relatively independent of the sample matrix. A maximum deviation from the mean of less than a factor of two was obtained for the sensitivity of any element when determined in a number of matrix materials including graphite, SiO₂, NaCl, Al, and Zn. A significant improvement was made in the linearity of the intensity-concentration curves.

© 1954 Optical Society of America

Spectrographic Procedure for Analysis of Powdered Samples of Unknown Origin

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Spectrochemical Determination of Silicon, Iron, and Aluminum in Mineral Powders with a High Voltage Direct Current Arc*1

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