Simultaneous determination of antimony and chlorine in synthetic rubbers by 14-MeV neutron-activation analysis

A nondestructive method for the analysis of Sb and Cl in synthetic rubbers by 14 MeV neutron activation analysis has been developed and evaluated by comparisons with microanalytical and thermal neutron activation analysis results. The method is most precise when a rubber with known amounts of Sb and Cl is used as a standard. Samples containing 0.07 to 2.5 wt % Sb and 2.5 to 15.9 wt % Cl have been analyzed and precision for the method is 10% or better. Antimony and Cl detection limits are 0.02 and 0.5 wt % respectively. Agreement among the three methods is excellent; the thermal activation analysis method is more precise and simpler to apply if only Sb needs to be determined in a sample