ASTM E478-03

ASTM E478-03 - 10.8.2003

Significance and Use

These test methods for the chemical analysis of metals and alloys are primarily intended as referee methods to test such materials for compliance with compositional specifications. It is assumed that all who use these methods will be trained analysts capable of performing common laboratory procedures skillfully and safely. It is expected that work will be performed in a properly equipped laboratory.

1. Scope

1.1 These test methods cover the chemical analysis of copper alloys having chemical compositions within the following limits:
Element Concentration, %
Aluminum 12.0 max
Antimony 1.0 max
Arsenic 1.0 max
Cadmium 1.5 max
Cobalt 1.0 max
Copper 40.0 min
Iron 6.0 max
Lead 27.0 max
Manganese 6.0 max
Nickel 50.0 max
Phosphorus 1.0 max
Silicon 5.0 max
Sulfur 0.1 max
Tin 20.0 max
Zinc 50.0 max

1.2 The test methods appear in the following order:

	Sections
Aluminum by the Carbamate Extraction-(Ethyl-enedinitrilo) Tetraacetate Titrimetric Test Method [2 to 12 %]	70-77
Copper by the Combined Electrodeposition Gravimetric and Oxalyldihydrazide Photometric Test Method [50 %, minimum]	9-17
Iron by the 1,10-Phenanthroline Photometric Test Method [0.003 to 1.25 %]	18-27
Lead by the Atomic Absorption Test Method [0.002 to 15 %]	89-99
Lead by the (Ethylenedinitrilo)tetraacetic Acid (EDTA) Titrimetric Test Method [2.0 to 30.0 %]	28-35
Nickel by the Dimethylglyoxime Extraction Photometric Test Method [0.03 to 5.0 %]	36-45
Nickel by the Dimethylglyoxime Gravimetric Test Method [4 to 50 %]	54-61
Silver in Silver-Bearing Copper by the Atomic Absorption Test Method [0.01 to 0.12 %]	100-111
Tin by the Iodatimetric Titration Test Method [0.5 to 20 %]	62-69
Tin by the Phenylfluorone Photometric Test Method [0.01 to 1.0 %]	112-122
Zinc by Atomic Spectrometry [0.2 to 2 %]	78-88
Zinc by the (Ethylenedinitrilo)tetraacetic Acid (EDTA) Titrimetric Test Method [2 to 40 %]	46-53

1.3 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.

2. Referenced Documents

E60-11(2022)e1	Standard Practice for Analysis of Metals, Ores, and Related Materials by Spectrophotometry (Includes all amendments and changes 6/29/2022).
E135-23a	Standard Terminology Relating to Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores, and Related Materials (Includes all amendments and changes 7/17/2023).
E50-17	Standard Practices for Apparatus, Reagents, and Safety Considerations for Chemical Analysis of Metals, Ores, and Related Materials
E29-22	Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E255-23	Standard Practice for Sampling Copper and Copper Alloys for the Determination of Chemical Composition
E173-93	Practice for Conducting Interlaboratory Studies of Methods for Chemical Analysis of Metals (Withdrawn 1997)
E1601-19	Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Evaluate the Performance of an Analytical Method