Determination of oxygen in metals using an impulse heating furnace equipped with a sample transfer lock.

An impulse heating furnace has been constructed for the determination of low levels of oxygen down to 100 µg g-1 in metals. The furnace is equipped with a sample transfer lock which permits samples to be loaded into outgassed crucibles in a helium atmosphere. As a result, blank levels in the range 2 to 3 µg oxygen are obtained; the modification also results in shorter sample processing time. The apparatus is described, and its suitability for oxygen determinations at these levels has been verified by comparison of results obtained on reference and analysed materials.