Overview
EN ISO 10700:1995 / ISO 10700:1994 specifies a flame atomic absorption spectrometric (AAS) method for the determination of manganese (Mn) in steel and iron. The procedure uses acid dissolution of a test portion, controlled evaporation with perchloric acid, and spectrometric measurement of the Mn atomic absorption at 279.5 nm using a manganese hollow‑cathode lamp. The method is applicable to manganese contents between 0.002 % (m/m) and 2.0 % (m/m).
Key topics and requirements
- Principle: dissolve sample in hydrochloric and nitric acids, evaporate with perchloric acid until white fumes appear, dilute and spray into an air–acetylene flame for AAS measurement at 279.5 nm.
- Reagents and materials: pure iron (matrix), HCl, HNO3, HClO4, HF (when needed), manganese standard solutions and a background solution; use class A volumetric glassware and ISO‑grade water.
- Instrumentation: atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a manganese hollow‑cathode lamp, air–acetylene fuel‑lean flame, and appropriate bandwidth and lamp current per manufacturer recommendations.
- Calibration and quality control: prepare calibration solutions and a zero member for each series, evaluate graph linearity and precision, run blank tests in parallel, and spray water between samples to avoid carryover.
- Performance limits (from the standard): specified limit of detection and characteristic concentration performance criteria; instrument precision and linearity checks are required prior to analysis.
- Safety: explicit warnings for perchloric acid (explosive vapors with organic matter), acetylene handling, UV radiation protection and proper fume‑hood use.
Practical applications
- Routine and QA/QC analysis in steel mills, foundries, metallurgy labs and third‑party testing laboratories to certify Mn composition in ferrous products.
- Incoming material inspection, process control (alloying adjustments), conformity testing to product specifications, and failure investigation where Mn content affects mechanical or chemical properties.
- Useful for laboratories implementing ISO‑compliant chemical testing workflows and traceable manganese determinations by flame AAS.
Who should use this standard
- Analytical chemists and laboratory managers in metallurgical and materials testing facilities.
- Quality engineers and technical staff responsible for chemical certification of steel and iron products.
- Standards specialists and accreditation bodies evaluating AAS methods for ferrous matrices.
Related standards
Keywords: EN ISO 10700, ISO 10700:1994, manganese determination, flame atomic absorption, AAS, steel and iron, Mn content, air‑acetylene flame, perchloric acid, calibration.