TOPICAL PROBLEMS IN ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF ADVANCED CERAMIC MATERIALS

Selected prominent problems in the analysis of advanced ceramic materi als are surveyed. The importance of reliability of results is discusse d in the field of elemental trace- and microanalysis in view of its in teraction with economy, power of detection, local resolution and speci ation selectivity. Particular problems in the analysis of major consti tuents, trace components and microlocal distributions are based on the striking properties of ceramics; they are exemplified. Analytical ass istance must start from the beginning of the production processing, in the preparation of the powdered base materials. Determination of the stoichiometry requires high accuracy and differentiation of chemical s pecies in bulk and surface analysis of ceramic base powders. Element t race determination by direct instrumental methods requires standard re ference materials for calibration; these are currently inavailable in a sufficient variety. For optimum reliability and power of detection, element traces must be prepared in isolated form in a small excitation volume for analysis. A review on the state-of-the-art of wet-chemical combined procedures is presented. Decomposition position procedures a re emphasized, due to their risk of contributing severe systematic err or. Combustion in elementary fluorine is presented for decomposition o f refractory materials. The performance of some direct procedures is d iscussed. Very efficient methods are available for element trace deter minations in ceramic materials, offering high detection power. Several approaches for high-resolution local microanalysis in non-conductive ceramic materials are identified as the most promising development in the analysis of sintered compact ceramic products and devices.