BS EN 15991 is a European Standard. BS EN 15991 defines a method for the determination of the trace element concentrations of Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Ni, Ti, V, and Zr in powdered and granular silicon carbide. Dependent on the element, wavelength, plasma conditions, and weight, this test method applies for mass contents of the above trace contaminations from about 0,1 mg/kg to about 1 000 mg/kg, after evaluation also from 0,001 mg/kg to about 5 000 mg/kg.
After adequate verification, BS EN 15991 is also applicable to further metallic elements (excepting Rb and Cs) and some non-metallic contaminations (like P and S) and other allied non-metallic powdered or granular materials like carbides, nitrides, graphite, soot, coke, coal, and some other oxidic materials. BS EN 15991 discusses scope, principle, spectrometry, and much more in a very detailed format.
Note 1: Generally, for optical emission spectrometry using inductively coupled plasma (ICP OES) and electrothermal vaporization (ETV) there is a linear working range of up to four orders of magnitude. This range can be expanded for the respective elements by variation of the weight or by choosing lines with different sensitivity.
Note 2: There is a positive experience with materials like, for example, graphite, B4C, Si3N4, BN, and several metal oxides as well as with the determination of P and S in some of these materials.
BS EN 15991 on testing ceramic and basic materials is useful for:
Ceramic and basic materials have several critical applications like electronics because of their unique properties. Electrothermal vaporization is used for testing ceramics and basic materials in the test method outlined in BS EN 15991. It is used because of its high sensitivity, ease, and many more important advantages. Dependent on the element, wavelength, plasma conditions, and weight, this test method applies for mass contents of the above trace contaminations from about 0,1 mg/kg to about 1 000 mg/kg, after evaluation also from 0,001 mg/kg to about 5 000 mg/kg.
Compliance with BS EN 15991 assures customers that the best industrial practices are followed and ensures maximum safety as it is used in critical applications.
EN 15991:2015