Determination of boron at trace level in stainless steel by carrier distillation technique

Nuclear Fuel Complex is engaged in production of nuclear fuel and structural materials for Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), Boiling Water Reactor (BWR), Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) operating in India. Boron is a very critical element in all the materials of importance to nuclear power reactors owing to its high neutron absorption cross section (σa = 755b). Stainless steels are most preferred structural materials in FBR over alloys of Zirconium due to high burn-ups allowed in these reactors.The present method describes the determination of boron in presence of matrix by emission technique using DC-Arc as excitation source