LINE SELECTION AND EVALUATION OF RADIO-FREQUENCY GLOW-DISCHARGE ATOMIC-EMISSION SPECTROMETRY FOR THE ANALYSIS OF COPPER AND ALUMINUM-ALLOYS

A methodical approach to line selection based on signal-to-background (S/B) for bulk metals and signal-to-noise (S/N) measurements for trace components in both copper and aluminum alloys has been carried out us ing radio frequency glow discharge atomic emission spectrometry (rf-GD -AES). The analytical lines selected were used to evaluate the figures of merit of accuracy, precision, and limits of detection. Accuracies within the certified error were achieved without the use of an interna l standard for the copper alloys. For the aluminum alloys, the use of an internal standard was necessary in order to achieve this level of a ccuracy. The figures of merit also include internal (short-term) preci sions of 0.1-0.6 % RSD, external (sample-to-sample) precisions of 4 % RSD, plasma stabilization times of less than 3 min, and limits of dete ction on the order of tens of parts per billion. The analytical figure s of merit presented suggest that rf-GD-AES is a viable alternative to traditional arc and spark emission techniques.