Overview
EN ISO 11876:2010 (CEN adoption of ISO 11876:2010) specifies a flame atomic absorption spectrometric (FAAS) method for the determination of trace elements in cobalt metal powders used in hardmetals. The standard covers mass-fraction measurement of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni and Zn in defined concentration ranges and gives a complete analytical procedure from sample preparation to reporting.
Key keywords: EN ISO 11876:2010, ISO 11876:2010, flame atomic absorption spectrometry, cobalt metal powders, hardmetals, trace element determination, powder metallurgy, quality control.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Scope and concentration ranges
- Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Zn: 0.001 % to 0.01 %
- Ca: 0.002 % to 0.01 %
- Fe, Ni: 0.002 % to 0.05 %
- Sample preparation
- Typical test portion: ~1.000 g (weighed to 0.001 g)
- Dissolution with nitric and hydrochloric acids, addition of cesium chloride matrix modifier and dilution (50 ml or 100 ml depending on sensitivity).
- Calibration and blanks
- Prepare at least three calibration solutions with matrix similar to the sample plus at least two blanks.
- Instrumentation and operating parameters
- FAAS set-up and safety per manufacturer instructions; optimize fuel/oxidant and wavelength.
- Typical element wavelengths and oxidant/fuel combinations specified (examples):
- Ca 422.7 nm - N2O/acetylene
- Cu 324.8 nm - air/acetylene
- Fe 248.3 nm - air/acetylene
- K 766.5 nm - air/acetylene
- Mg 285.2 nm - N2O/acetylene
- Mn 279.5 nm; Na 589.0 nm; Ni 232.0 nm; Zn 213.9 nm - air/acetylene
- Measurements and calculation
- Aspirate blank, calibration solutions, and test solutions; construct calibration curves and convert absorbance to mg/l.
- Mass fraction (%) calculation: mass fraction = (10000 × c × V) / m (where c = mg/l, V = ml, m = g).
- Performance and reporting
- Permissible repeatability/reproducibility limits are given (coefficients of variation vary by element and concentration).
- Report arithmetic mean of acceptable determinations and include method reference and any deviations in the test report.
Applications and Users
- Intended for powder metallurgy and hardmetal (cemented carbide) producers, QA/QC laboratories, contract testing labs, raw-material suppliers and R&D teams.
- Typical uses:
- Incoming material inspection of cobalt powders
- Process control and impurity monitoring during hardmetal manufacture
- Certification of cobalt powder chemical composition for alloying and sintering specifications
Related Standards
- ISO 3534-1 (statistics terminology referenced)
- ISO 5725 series (accuracy, trueness and precision methods) - cited for method validation and performance evaluation
EN ISO 11876:2010 provides a standardized, reproducible FAAS procedure to ensure trace-element control in cobalt powders, supporting consistent quality and regulatory compliance in hardmetal production.