Overview
EN ISO 20565-1:2008 (CEN adoption of ISO 20565-1:2008) specifies methods for the chemical analysis of chrome-bearing refractory products and chrome-bearing raw materials as an alternative to X‑ray fluorescence (XRF). The standard covers required apparatus, reagents, sample dissolution procedures and the gravimetric determination of silica (SiO2). It supports multiple analytical approaches including traditional wet chemical methods and instrumental techniques such as ICP‑AES and FAAS.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability: Procedures apply to chrome-bearing refractories and raw materials; applicable concentration ranges are provided (e.g. SiO2: 0.5–10 % by mass; Cr2O3: 2–60 % by mass).
- Apparatus: Specifies common laboratory items plus examples (e.g. PTFE beakers, calibrated plastic volumetric flasks) and calibration/cleaning requirements.
- Reagents and solutions: Lists required stock reagents, indicators and standard solutions with preparation notes and purity expectations (conforming to ISO 6353 series).
- Dissolution procedures: Describes decomposition and dissolution techniques used prior to analysis, including fusion and hydrofluoric‑acid attack options and necessary safety/handling considerations.
- Gravimetric silica determination: Provides the procedure for isolating and weighing silica (SiO2) as a gravimetric endpoint, including loss on ignition (LOI) considerations.
- Instrumental methods: Defines sample-preparation pathways compatible with ICP‑AES and FAAS spectrometry, and how they integrate with wet chemical workflows.
- Quality and reporting: Includes guidance on calculation, expression and reporting of test results, and conformity with general wet‑chemistry quality requirements (cross-referenced to ISO 26845).
Applications and users
This standard is practical for:
- Quality control and QC laboratories in refractories and steel industries
- Materials testing laboratories performing compositional analysis of chrome-bearing bricks, aggregates and raw feeds
- R&D groups developing refractory formulations or testing alternative analytical routes to XRF
- Regulatory and inspection labs requiring traceable methods for silica and oxide determinations
Benefits include reliable alternatives to XRF where instrumental access is limited, and detailed sample‑preparation recipes that improve comparability between wet chemical and spectrometric results.
Related standards
- ISO 20565-2: wet chemical analysis methods (companion part)
- ISO 20565-3: FAAS and ICP‑AES procedures (companion part)
- ISO 12677: XRF method for refractories (alternative technique)
- ISO 26845: general requirements for wet chemical, AAS and ICP‑AES analysis
- ISO 6353 series: reagent specifications
Keywords: EN ISO 20565-1, ISO 20565-1:2008, chemical analysis, chrome-bearing refractory products, gravimetric silica, wet chemical methods, ICP‑AES, FAAS, XRF alternative.