Rio Tinto Alcan Non-Metallic Standards

ALCAN produces non-metallic Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) used to calibrate or drift correct techniques such as XRF, ICP, AAS, XRF, and DSC. ALCAN standards are powdered and sold in quantities from 500 mg to 500 g according to their end use.

These CRMs are certified by primary calibrations and are NIST traceable. An inter-laboratory comparison is finally initiated to achieve uniform consensus values and then all data is statistically analyzed to ensure that the certified values and confidence intervals are of the highest accuracy.

Introduction

The need for fast and accurate analysis of materials used or produced by today’s industry led to the development of analytical techniques capable of accurate determination of multiple characteristics with ever-tighter tolerance limits.

Alcan has responded to these trends by continuously upgrading the availability of quality of the certified reference materials (CRM’s) it produces and uses to control its processes and to certify its products. It has also made these CRM’s available to its clients and the aluminum industry in general. They consist of typical raw materials, process intermediates and products whose composition and physico-chemical properties have been characterized through round robins under the supervision of the Arvida Research and Development Centre to ISO guide 25 criteria. A limited supply of environment-related standard samples is also available upon special request. This catalogue contains an up-to-date list of Alcan non-metallic certified reference materials used to calibrate of standardize instrumental techniques such as XRF, ICP, AAS, XRD, DSC, particle size determination, etc. and to assure traceability of wet chemical analyses. The certified value and its uncertainty, expressed as one standard deviation are indicated where available, detailed information is given on the certificates of analysis. The increasing drive to ISO 9000 accreditation has made Alcan CRM’s ideal components of quality assurance/quality control activities. The CRM’s are offered for sale subject to availability from stock. Alcan reserves the right to discontinue any standard, limit the quantity supplied or change the price at any time. Every effort will be made to replace a standard that is not available with an appropriate substitute. Alcan cannot accept any liability for damage arising from the use of its CRM’s.

Preparation and Certification

Alcan non-metallic standards are powdered samples and are sold in quantities varying from 500 mg to 500 g according to their end-use. The standard samples are prepared from a bulk supply of a representative material, are well homogenized and tested for uniformity of composition using XRF or Electric Sensing Zone.

Alcan standard samples for composition are certified by using at least two independent, absolute methods of analysis, such as XRF, ICP, AAS or colorimetric, titrimetric and gravimetric techniques. If only one technique is available, two technicians using two separate setups generate 10 independent results each. Alcan standard sample are certified against primary (absolute) calibrations and are NIST traceable. An inter-laboratory comparison is finally initiated to achieve uniform consensus values. All data are statistically analyzed to ensure that the certified characteristic is of the highest accuracy.

The actual certified composition/characteristic along with the corresponding standard deviations are given on the certificate of analysis issued with each standard sample.

Types of available CRMs for the Bayer Process:

Bauxite, Red Mud, Alumina

(CRMs for determining physical properties, including particle sizes, of Alumina are available.)

Types of available CRMs for Electrolysis:

Green Petroleum Coke, Calcined Petroleum Coke, Metallurgical Coke, Anthracite, Pitch Elemental Composition, Raw Fluorspar, Fluorspar Final Concentrate, Electrolytic Bath, Aluminum Fluoride, Scrubber Alumina, Cryolite, and physical properties for Pitch.

These typical raw materials and process intermediates have been characterized under the supervision of the Arvida Research and Development Center to ISO guide 25.  A Certificate of Analysis, with Confidence Intervals, is issued with each CRM.

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