Rigaku Technologies has announced new method for the analysis of iron in aluminum

Applied Rigaku Technologies, Inc. today announced a new empirical method for the analysis of iron in aluminum. Commercial production of aluminum begins with the separation of aluminum oxide from the iron oxide in bauxite, the primary source of aluminum. The alumina, silica and iron content of the ore samples help determine purity and alloy quality, thus playing a significant role in the selection of a bauxite mine site.

The concentration of iron is also particularly important during the smelting process to control the grade of the aluminum produced. The levels of iron are therefore closely monitored in the QA/QC process, which requires a simple and fast analysis in order to maintain the optimum product output. The Rigaku NEX QC is designed to be an ideal tool for the non-destructive measurement of iron and other elements in aluminum.

For this application, data were collected from disk samples approximately 8 cm diameter and 1 cm thick, cut from an extrusion billet cylinder. Three assayed standards were used for calibration. Each standard was measured once using a 100 second analysis time. The results show NEX QC provides excellent performance for the measurement of iron in aluminum. Spectral results also show the versatility of the analyzer for qualitative screening of low and high grade aluminum, as well as the capability to screen for other elements in the process.