A computer system for the spectrometric analysis of high alloyed steel

Summary Experiences with a computer controlled analyser system for production control in a steel plant are reported. The analyser system consists of a direct reading vacuum spectrometer, a digital computer and a data transmission system. The computer system is responsible for the control of the spectrometer as well as for the transformation of measured values into element concentration values and their transmission into the plant internal teleprinter network. A great disadvantage of spectrometers is the fact that matrix effects occur. To solve the problems arising from that — especially in the case of analyses of an extended alloying program — either numerous special calibration curves for all the different types of alloyed steels can be established or one can use only one calibration curve and eliminate the matrix effects by calculation of the line coincidences and the third element influences. The combination of a spectrometer and a digital computer permits rapid determination of the chemical composition of samples by following the second procedure and makes the automatic transmission and documentation of data possible. The composition and working method of such an equipment is described, some selected examples for the used method of calibration are given. The principle of the digital computer program for the calculation of the chemical composition from measured intensity values is demonstrated, and the means of automatic transmission of results are shown. The main advantages of the system and also its limits are discussed.