All interested parties are invited to join in the ongoing development of a proposed new standard, WK19982, Test Method for ICP Analysis of Calcium and Magnesium in Magnesium Ferrosilicon. WK19982 is being developed by Subcommittee E01.01 on Iron, Steel and Ferroalloys, part of ASTM International Committee E01 on Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores and Related Materials.

According to Robert Kozicki, vice president, Andrew S. McCreath & Son Inc., and a Committee E01 member, the proposed new standard will enable laboratories to perform determinations of calcium and magnesium without having to do the ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid titrations that are necessary in the current standard, E372, Test Method for Determination of Calcium and Magnesium in Magnesium Ferrosilicon. "The method in the proposed new standard is faster than the EDTA titration method and it eliminates the interference between the calcium and magnesium that you have when titrating with EDTA," says Kozicki, who also notes that both suppliers and users of magnesium ferrosilicon will benefit from use of the proposed new standard.

For technical Information, contact Robert Kozicki, Andrew S. McCreath & Son Inc., Harrisburg, Pa. (phone: 717-364-1440; rob@mccreathlabs.com). Committee E01 meets Oct. 7-9 in conjunction with ILAP '08 in Vail, Colo. For meeting or membership information, contact Thomas O'Toole (phone: 610-832-9739; totoole@astm.org).

Release #8049