DETERMINATION OF ANTIMONY AND OTHER TRACE-ELEMENTS IN IRONS AND STEELS BY ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETRY WITH INTRODUCTION OF SOLID SAMPLES INTO AN INDUCTION FURNACE

Atomic-absorption spectrophotometry with an induction furnace has been used for the determination of 0.5-350 μg g-1 of antimony in 1-20-mg samples of irons and steels dropped into the furnace. Calibration graphs of peak absorbance versus the mass of antimony have been constructed by using standard steels. Information is presented on the accuracy and precision of the method for 13 irons and steels. The limit of detection for antimony is 0.12 μg g -1. Calibration graphs have also been obtained for indium in a nickel-base alloy and thallium, tin, selenium, tellurium, zinc and cadmium in steels in order to establish the conditions that will be necessary to determine these elements using a procedure similar to that employed for antimony. Factors affecting the volatility of trace elements with boiling-points below 2300 °C are discussed.