The comparison of methods for the analysis of the chemical composition of aluminum alloys

Abstract

The article compares the results of three analytical methods for the determination of the chemical composition on the surface of certified standards and aluminum alloy products. It is glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES), optical emission spectrometry (OES) with spark discharge, and energetic dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF). The results are supplemented by oxygen and nitrogen levels determined by thermo-evolutionary elementary analysis. First, standards with a certified composition were measured. It was found that the most appropriate analysis for determining the composition of aluminum alloys (with the exception of the quantitative determination of Fe and Zn) is glow discharge optical emission spectrometry. Optical emission spectrometry with spark discharge was identified as the most appropriate for determining the content of Fe and Zn. The ED-XRF analysis on the mobile spectrometer is sufficiently accurate in the case of measurement of aluminum alloys, except for magnesium content measurements. It is advantageous to use it mainly where it is not possible to reach a sufficiently large surface of the sample and also where the surface must not be damaged.