Determination of nickel in finished product alloys by instrumental neutron activation analysis and spectrophotometry

Nickel contents in different finished product alloys were determined using a k ₀-based internal monostandard instrumental neutron activation analysis (IM-INAA) method. Five stainless steels (SS) and three high nickel alloys were analyzed by IM-INAA. BCS CRMs 225/1 (low alloy steel) and 466 (austenitic SS) and NIST SRM 247 (high Ni alloy) were analyzed to evaluate the accuracy of the method. The results of CRMs and SS were found to be in good agreement with certified or specified values. The Ni contents in the high nickel alloys were also determined by relative method of NAA for verification. Nickel contents in BCS CRM 466 and SS 316M were determined by UV–Visible spectrophotometry and the values were found to be in good agreement with IM-INAA results.