Casting and preparation of sample for fluorescent X-ray analysis

Influences of methods of casting and sample preparation on X-ray fluorescent analysis of cast iron were investigated. It was emphasized that the microstructures among the samples analyzed must be uniform. Casting in pure sandmold or in pure metal mold gave very good analytical results, although the sample cast in metal mold gave higher analytical accuracy. The accuracies represented as mean error, d, were : Si 0.023%, Mn 0.013%, P 0.001% and S 0.0006% for the sample cast in pure metal mold, and Si 0.058%, Mn 0.017%, P 0.0029% and S 0.0019% for the sample cast in sandmold. The time required for an analysis, including that for the sample preparation, was about 5.5 minutes.