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Analyzing iron and steel is the main analytical use of today’s spark spectrometers. In addition to the conventional commercial applications for steel, increasing demands from the automotive industry has ushered in a rapid wave of alloy developments.

These new alloys are sought after in automotive manufacturing due to their lightweight and enhanced properties while delivering optimal performances.

The Q4 POLO is the perfect tool for the precise analysis of steel and cast iron.

With the latest optimized MultiVisionTM optics, the Q4 POLO offers exceptional analytical performance allowing the instrument to monitor the nitrogen content in low alloyed steels and iron casting processes, identify other trace elements, and, of course, provide dependable results on all relevant alloying elements.

Figure 1. Iron and steel samples. Image Credit: Bruker AXS Inc.

The chemical composition at various phases of the steel refining and casting processes is monitored by establishing the composition of the steel samples extracted from the liquid steel.

The preparation of the samples is carried out by grinding or milling processes to produce a flat and homogeneous surface. Each of the samples in this article had been prepared following the sample preparation procedure using a grinding machine.

Certified Reference Material (CRM) refers to reference materials characterized by a metrologically authentic proce­dure for a number of specified properties: an accompanying certificate provides the value of the properties specified (whether one or many), any associated uncertainty and a statement of metrological traceability.

A recognized certifying organ­ization will grant CRMs certification by applying approved certification procedures, as set out in the most up-to-date ISO Guide 35. The organ­ization is typically associated with a federal government or at least recognized by a federal government or an authenticated accreditation entity.

A CRM is the greatest standard to which an analytical ref­erence material can be held because it can be directly traced back to the appropriate SI units and because of the con­fidence placed on the company or organization from which the material came.

Population: The entire group that conclusions will be taken from.

Sample: A specific group used for data acquisition.

Average (X): A number denoting the central or general value in a set of data, particularly the mode, median or (most commonly) the mean, which is determined by divid­ing the sum of the values in the set by their overall number.

Standard Deviation (σ): Measures the amount of variation or dispersion of a set of values

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) stipulates that ‘precision’ is the closeness of agreement between independent test results acquired under a set of agreed conditions.

Precision is contingent on the distribution of random errors and is not relative to the true or spec­ified value. On the other hand, accuracy is the closeness of agreement between a test result and the accepted reference value (SSE).

Figure 2. Precision and accuracy. Image Credit: Bruker AXS Inc.

Performance Disclaimer and Remarks The published values have been acquired from quite different types of materials and should be regarded as “typical” values. The given performances only apply for homogeneous samples, appropriately prepared, and are subject to technical modification. Calibration ranges can be extended with samples provided by the customer.

The Q4 POLO’s reproducibility and the method described are demonstrated by a sequence of repetitive measure­ments of certified reference material across various groups of alloys and element concentrations.

Table 2. CRM Low Alloy Steel - Fe110 - 181A. Source: Bruker AXS Inc.

Table 3. CRM Stainless Steel - Fe130 - 463/1. Source: Bruker AXS Inc.

Table 4. CRM Cast Iron - Fe120 - 238A. Source: Bruker AXS Inc.

1) MEAN = arithmetic average 2) STD = absolute standard deviation (1σ) 3) %RSD = relative standard deviation in percent

The stability of the Q4 POLO is determined by a sequence of repetitive measurements on a reference material, registered over several days, without the correction of any intermediate drift.

Typical Chemical Composition of X2CrNiMo17-12-2 - 1.4404 – AISI/SAE 316L

The compact Q4 POLO is a Spark Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES) that combines ultra-precision analysis capabilities with a lower cost of ownership in a practical, small foot­print.

It is ready for analysis from the first day, covering all relevant elements and wide concentration ranges. Meanwhile, the Q4 POLO also offers high uptime, reduced maintenance and trouble-free operation.

High precision, dependable analysis is now available for every production floor and foundry to easily and cost-effectively obtain results.

Image Credit: Bruker AXS Inc.

ELEMENTAL.SUITE software assists routine daily tasks. Automated average and limit checks guarantee safe operation. Just one click is required to save, print and report any analyses.

Developed for maximum usability, the plug-in-based architecture of ELE­MENTAL.SUITE offers optimal flexibility for all analytical require­ments.

Image Credit: Bruker AXS Inc.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Bruker AXS Inc.

For more information on this source, please visit Bruker AXS Inc.

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