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Comparison of sample preparation methods for determination of free carbon in boron carbide by X-ray powder diffraction

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Abstract

Several sample preparation methods were evaluated for determination of free carbon in boron carbide powders by quantitative X-ray diffraction method, including ultrasonication, wet ball milling and dry ball milling–wet mixing. Quantitation was based on measuring the integral peak area ratio of the diffraction lines of graphite (002) to boron carbide (012) in samples spiked with pure graphite. The dry milling–wet mixing method provided the best precision and accuracy in all the measurements as well as in determination of free carbon in a boron carbide reference material. There was a linear relationship between the integral peak area ratios and graphite added to boron carbide samples which were purified from their free carbon content. The method provided a low detection limit of 0.05 wt% free carbon.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of this work by the Sooreh Company, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sooreh Company, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Masoud Bakhshi, Hamid Arab & Mohammad K. Amini

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, 81746-73441, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Mohammad K. Amini

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  1. Masoud Bakhshi
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  2. Hamid Arab
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Correspondence to Masoud Bakhshi or Mohammad K. Amini.

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Bakhshi, M., Arab, H. & Amini, M.K. Comparison of sample preparation methods for determination of free carbon in boron carbide by X-ray powder diffraction. J IRAN CHEM SOC 13, 1673–1681 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-016-0884-0

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