Weight-based Synthesized Standards Preparation for Correction-free Calibration in X-ray Fluorescence Determination of Tungsten in High-speed Steel.

This paper suggests a correction-free calibration method in wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis in order to determine tungsten as a major alloyed element in high-speed steels accurately. Matrix effects on fluorescent X-ray intensity of tungsten Lα line were minimized by borate fusion, and the total amount of tungsten in the glassy matrix could be quantified. Glass bead specimens were prepared with 10 to 12 mg of the steel sample and 4.0 g of lithium tetraborate as a flux agent. Without untraceable X-ray intensity correction, a linear calibration curve was obtained by measuring synthesized calibration standards prepared by using standard solutions. As compared with fundamental parameter calculations, the present method gave more accurate results of tungsten in certified reference materials of high-speed steel.