TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 262/1985
By G J Carter
Background
A description is given of two experimental methods for obtaining chemical analyses from small samples. One technique employs mounting the available sample in a metal filled resin: the other is non-destructive, and entails rubbing the material in question with abrasive paper to produce a thin film. For both methods, analysis is based on X-ray fluorescence, and trials are reported involving austenitic stainless steels. From the results obtained, both sampling methods may be validly employed for determination of the major alloying elements present in stainless steels, and it is expected that the methods will be applicable also to other materials.