EN ISO 11652:2022 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 11652:2022 - "Steel and iron - Determination of cobalt content - Flame atomic absorption spectrometric method (ISO 11652:1997)" - specifies a validated analytical procedure for measuring cobalt content in steel and iron using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The method covers cobalt concentrations from 0.003 % (m/m) to 5.0 % (m/m) and defines sample preparation, calibration, instrument performance criteria and quality controls required for reliable results.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Analytical principle: Dissolution of a weighed test portion in hydrochloric, nitric and perchloric acids, followed by measurement of atomic absorption at the 240.7 nm cobalt line in an air–acetylene flame.
• Scope and range: Applicable to cobalt contents between 0.003 % and 5.0 % (m/m) in steel and iron matrices.
• Reagents and standards: Use of high-purity iron and nickel blanks, analytical-grade acids and prepared cobalt standard solutions (defined in the standard) to construct calibration curves.
• Instrument performance: Requirements include precision limits for repeated absorbance measurements, limit of detection ≦ 0.05 µg Co/mL, and characteristic concentration ≦ 0.3 µg Co/mL (wavelength 240.7 nm). Graph linearity and repeatability criteria are specified.
• Sampling and test portion: Sampling per ISO 14284; recommended test portion masses vary with expected cobalt level (e.g., ~1.0 g for up to 2.0 % Co).
• Safety and quality control: Warning on perchloric acid vapours and need for blanks, dilution schemes and calibration across the applicable concentration ranges. Background correction (e.g., deuterium lamp) is recommended for highly alloyed steels to avoid molecular interferences.

Applications

• Quality control and composition verification in steelmaking and foundries.
• Metallurgical laboratories performing chemical analysis of steels and irons for product certification.
• Regulatory and materials testing labs requiring standardized cobalt determination for compliance, alloy certification, or failure analysis.
• Research labs comparing alloy compositions or developing process controls where cobalt concentration affects properties (magnetic, wear resistance, corrosion).

Who should use this standard

• Analytical chemists and laboratory managers in metallurgy and materials testing
• Quality assurance personnel in steel production
• Accredited testing laboratories and conformity assessment bodies
• Standards developers and technical committees referencing validated AAS procedures

Related standards (select)

• ISO 14284 - Sampling and preparation for chemical analysis of steel and iron
• ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use
• ISO 385 / 648 / 1042 - Volumetric glassware specifications

Keywords: EN ISO 11652:2022, cobalt determination, flame atomic absorption spectrometry, AAS, steel and iron analysis, cobalt content, analytical method, metallurgical testing.