Analysis of cast iron by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

It is shown that a wide range of cast irons can be analysed on one calibration if the sample surfaces are prepared to a mirror finish with diamond paste. Polishing the samples with any abrasive material results in preferential removal of the softer constituents from the sample matrix. If coarser abrasives than diamond paste are used, the increased depth of the introduced sample inhomogeneity leads to unacceptable error limits for the determination of light elements.