The Spectrographic Characterization of Aluminum Alloys

Abstract

A spectrographic method has been developed for the determination of the following elements, in the given concentration ranges, in aluminum alloys: manganese 0.01–0.8%, iron 0.1–6.0%, magnesium 0.1–2.0%, copper 0.3–10.0%, zinc, 0.03–5.0%, silicon 0.1–6.0%, chromium 0.02–0.4%, nickel 0.02–0.6%, titanium 0.01–0.1%, lead 0.01–1.0%, calcium 0.1–2.0%. The standard errors of estimate, calculated for each of the working curves used, range from 11.4% to 14.0%. The method has proven itself highly satisfactory for the classification of unknown types of aluminum alloys and, to a limited extent, in specification analyses. It is versatile since it can be applied to a sample of any size, shape or metallurgical history.