Measurement of Oxygen and Nitrogen in High Purity Metals Used as National Standards for Elemental Analysis in Germany by Classical Carrier Gas Hot Extraction (HE) and HE after Activation with Photons

Abstract

The special importance of the analysis of non-metals in high purity metals, which will serve as national standards for elemental analysis in Germany, is illustrated for oxygen and nitrogen. The typical range of the mass fraction of oxygen and nitrogen in these materials is below 10 µg/g, often close to 1 µg/g. The two methods applied at BAM for these measurements are classical carrier gas hot extraction (HE) and carrier gas hot extraction after activation with photons (PAA-HE). The approach, the methods and their advantages and limitations are discussed. Comparative results from the measurement of oxygen and nitrogen in Cu, Fe, Ga, Pb, Sn and W are presented.