Most spectrochemical instruments employed for analyzing steel and iron require a solid specimen with a flat surface large enough for analytical excitation and measurement procedures. This practice describes a procedure for converting unusual types of steel and iron samples to satisfactory spectrochemical specimens.

1.1 This practice describes the preparation of disk specimens of steel and iron by melting chunks, chips, drillings, turnings, wire, or powder briquets with an electric arc in an argon atmosphere. Solidification of the specimen takes place in the crucible in an argon atmosphere. The disk obtained is suitable for quantitative spectrochemical analysis.

1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in 6.2.1, and Section 8.