Absorption-free calibration on X-ray fluorescence analysis of high-speed steel with glass bead preparation

摘要

This article describes a novel idea on preparation of a glass bead for X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, to determine alloyed elements in high-speed steel without any matrix correction. The quantification method using the glass bead is generally effective to reduce secondary X-ray absorption and enhancement (matrix effect) by coexisting elements in a sample. Although the glass bead is normally prepared based on a flux-to-sample ratio, the suggested method mainly controls an absolute amount of the sample in the glass bead to prevent from any interference with the matrix elements. As a result, the alloyed elements, except tungsten, in high-speed steels could be determined with high precision and accuracy, independent of the flux-to-sample ratio. However, the fluorescent X-ray intensity of tungsten L alpha line (8.40 keV) was obviously influenced by the sample amount (iron content) in a glass bead; in this case, the M alpha line (1.77 keV) could be employed alternatively.