The high sensitivity measurement of carbon using the nuclear microprobe

The sensitivity of the nuclear microprobe method for the determination of carbon by the reaction 12C(d,p0)13C has been improved to allow the measurement of 1 ppm in pure metals. The improvement was obtained by optimising counting and irradiation conditions. Excellent agreement has been obtained between nuclear microprobe and gamma-photon activation analyses of carbon in nickel at concentrations between 10 and 1000 ppm. The method has also been applied to the determination of the distribution of carbon in an iron membrane from a carbon meter. Boron, nitrogen, silicon, phosphorus and sulphur only interfere if present in concentrations exceeding that of carbon. (orig.)