Determination of major nonmetallic impurities in magnesium by glow discharge mass spectrometry with a fast flow source using sintered and pressed powder samples

Fast flow glow discharge mass spectrometry with a Grimm-type ion source providing a high sputter rate was used for the determination of major nonmetallic impurities in magnesium. The analytical signal was found to be strongly influenced by the electrical discharge parameters. For calibration by standard addition, synthetic standard samples were produced in two different ways—namely, by pressing and by sintering doped metal powders. The observed sensitivity of the calibration curves was shown to depend on the particle size of the powder. For the magnesium powders, the mass fractions of oxygen, nitrogen, boron, and silicon were determined to be about 0.01 kg?kg^-1 (relative standard deviation approximately 10–20 %), 2,700 mg?kg^-1, 150 mg?kg^-1, and 300 mg?kg^-1, respectively.