ISO 10278:1995

Overview

ISO 10278:1995 - Steel - Determination of manganese content - Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric method specifies an ICP-AES procedure for measuring manganese in unalloyed steels. The method covers manganese contents from 0.002 % (m/m) to 1.5 % (m/m). It defines sample dissolution, instrumental settings, calibration, and quality checks to ensure reliable quantitative results.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and principle: Dissolve a test portion of steel in a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids, optionally add an internal standard (scandium or yttrium), nebulize the solution into an ICP-AES and measure the manganese emission at 257.61 nm.
• Internal standards: Scandium (361.38 nm) or yttrium (371.03 nm) may be used to correct for matrix effects and instrument drift; simultaneous measurement of analyte and internal standard is specified when applicable.
• Calibration and measurements: Linear calibration graphs are required (correlation coefficient > 0.999). Blank tests and multiple calibration points spanning the method range are required; five integrations per solution and checks for short-term stability are specified.
• Instrument performance: Bandwidth for analytical lines shall be < 0.040 nm. The standard sets background equivalent concentration (BEC) and detection limit (DL) requirements (e.g., BEC ≤ 0.02 mg/L and DL ≤ 0.6 mg/L for Mn 257.61 nm).
• Precision and validation: An interlaboratory trial (28 laboratories across 12 countries) established repeatability and reproducibility values across the method range; the standard includes tabulated precision data and guidance for calculating results.
• Laboratory practice: Use class A volumetric glassware and ISO-grade reagents and water; follow specified sample handling, blank procedures and reporting requirements.

Applications and users

ISO 10278:1995 is intended for:

• Metallurgical and materials testing laboratories performing manganese determination in steel.
• Quality control and production laboratories in steel mills and foundries.
• Third-party testing, certification bodies, and regulatory compliance testing where standardized, traceable manganese analysis is required.
• Analytical chemists and laboratory managers selecting ICP-AES methods for steel composition analysis.

Benefits include a standardized ICP-AES workflow, defined performance checks (BEC/DL, stability, linearity), and interlaboratory-proven precision for accurate manganese content reporting.

Related standards

ISO 10278 references and aligns with other ISO documents relevant to sampling, glassware and laboratory practice, for example:

• ISO 377-2 (sampling of wrought steels)
• ISO 3696 (water for analytical laboratory use)
• ISO 5725 (precision of test methods)
• Laboratory glassware standards (ISO 385‑1, ISO 648, ISO 1042)

Keywords: ISO 10278:1995, manganese determination, ICP-AES, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, steel analysis, manganese content, Sc internal standard, Y internal standard, detection limit, calibration, repeatability, reproducibility.