Determination of boron in aluminum and aluminum-magnesium alloy by charged particle activation analysis

Abstract

Charge particle activation analysis is applied to the determination of boron in aluminum and aluminum-magnesium alloy. The /sup 10/B(p,..cap alpha..)/sup 7/Be, the /sup 10/B(d,..cap alpha..n)/sup 7/Be, and the /sup 10/B(d,n)/sup 11/C reactions are used. Proton activation allows an instrumental determination. When the /sup 10/B(d,..cap alpha..n)/sup 7/Be reaction is used, beryllium-7 is separated from the matrix by liquid-liquid extraction; beryllium acetylacetonate is extracted with carbon tetrachloride after complexation of other metal ions with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. After back extraction beryllium is precipitated as beryllium hydroxide and heated to beryllium oxide. When the /sup 10/B(d,n)/sup 11/C reaction is used, carbon-11 is separated as carbon dioxide by dissolution of the sample in a mixture of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, water, and potassium dichromate. The chemical yield of both separation methods was determined. The results obtained have a relative standard deviation of 5-9% at the 1-33 ..mu..g/g concentration. The different nuclear reactions yield results that are in good mutual agreement and also agree satisfactorily with those of nonnuclear analytical methods.