A study of a high repetition rate condensed arc source for the analysis of low alloy steels using different counter electrode sample configurations—I. A comparison between flat and dimple samples using a pointed tungsten counter electrode

Abstract

A high repetition condensed arc source was investigated as a light source for the analysis of low alloy steel samples. The arc operated in an argon atmosphere using a sequential spectrometer as radiation recorder. Two techniques are compared viz. flat and dimple surface samples. Photographs of eroded surfaces are presented and discussed. Using manganese as test element present in a number of steel samples with different physical and chemical compositions, sample preparation, the experiments performed and an evaluation technique are described. The results are evaluated and discussed. It was found that long pre-arc times are necessary before relatively stable conditions set in and that the most satisfactory results are recorded using the line pair Mn I403.449/Fe I376.379 with the dimple technique.