Abstract

Analysis of copper in steel and cast iron is easily carried out spectrographically with spark excitation in the range .02 to .20 percent using the 3274A copper line and the 3264A iron line, and in the range .20 to .80 percent with the 3286A iron line. These methods, described in detail herein, are not reliable for higher percentages of copper in cast iron and steel due to reversing of the 3274A copper line and segregation of copper in the iron with increasing copper concentrations. A unique method is described in detail which enables the spectrographer to analyze copper in cast iron and steel up to 2.50 percent (higher if standards are available). The method advocates the use of the a.c. arc at 5 kv and $1\frac{1}{2}$ amperes for two reasons. The analysis lines chosen for calibration using the general internal standard method are the 2824A copper line and the 2819A iron line. Since copper percentages do not normally exceed .80 percent in the steel to be spectrographically analyzed by our laboratory, the technique described herein was developed primarily for cast iron in which copper percentages of three percent are not unusual.

© 1947 Optical Society of America

Spectrochemical Analysis by the Copper Spark Method*

Mark Fred, Norman H. Nachtrieb, and Frank S. Tomkins
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 37(4) 279-287 (1947)

The Influence of Varying Amounts of Elements in Steel and Cast Irons on Spectral Intensity

Lillian J. Canody, T. Harris, and J. F. Woodruff
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 43(2) 145-148 (1953)

The Spectrographic Analysis of Ferro-Silicon

J. H. Coulliette
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 37(8) 609-613 (1947)

The Spectrochemical Analysis of Nickel Alloys*

Edwin K. Jaycox
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 37(3) 159-162 (1947)

Spectrochemical Analysis of Ceramics and Other Non-Metallic Materials*

Edwin K. Jaycox
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 37(3) 162-165 (1947)