Preparation of reference materials for frit chemical analysis

A study was undertaken on how to prepare frit reference materials in which the following elements are analysed: Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, N, K, Ti, Zr, Ba, Pb, Zn, Hf, P, B and Li. The following analytical techniques were used: X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and titrimetry. Boron and lithium were analysed by ICP-OES, sodium and lithium by AAS, and boron by titrimetry, while the remaining frit elements and sodium were analysed by XRF. The results found by the different methods were compared and each method was validated by means of reference materials. A procedure was established for preparing frit reference materials for calibrating and validating working methods on an industrial scale.