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

Abstract

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 Lα line (8.40 keV) was obviously influenced by the sample amount (iron content) in a glass bead; in this case, the Mα line (1.77 keV) could be employed alternatively.