GLC determination of silicon in alloys after chlorination with carbon tetrachloride

Summary By using carbon tetrachloride as chlorinating agent, the silicon contained in alloys can be quantitatively converted to silicon tetrachloride under certain conditions in a sealed glass tube (microreactor). This microreactor is then crushed by a special device which at the same time serves as an injection port to a gas chromatograph where the volatile products are separated and quantitatively determined. This method has been applied to a number of silicon alloys and is not time-consuming or costly, as many samples can be analysed in an hour with the use of common gas chromatographic systems. It is sensitive and selective, and it gives very accurate and precise (relative standard deviation <±0.5) results over a very wide range of silicon composition (1–99%).