# US 4,400,354 A · Apparatus useful for analyzing refractory substances

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- Number: US 4,400,354 A
- Document ID: US4400354A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/235,781
- Filed: 1981-02-19
- Granted: 1983-08-23
- Earliest claimed: 1981-02-19
- Assignees: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
- Inventors: Robert F. Culmo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4400354A

## CPC

- G01N 25/50: by investigating flash-point; by investigating explosibility
- G01N 1/44: Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

An apparatus and method useful for analyzing refractory substances includes a means for locally heating a sample portion of a refractory material to generate the dissociated vapor thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In combination with a non-refractory sample elemental analyzer, including a furnace having an upper temperature limit capable of oxidizing only non-refractory materials having a sample delivery tube extending therethrough, an apparatus for oxidizing a refractory sample; said apparatus comprising:
an open, hollow, cylindrical heat containment member having said refractory sample therein, said member being within said sample delivery tube positioned within said furnace of said analyzer; and
a layer of powdered material overlying said refractory sample, said powdered material being exothermically reactive at a temperature less than said upper limit of said furnace, whereby when said powdered material exothermically reacts, the temperature limit available for oxidizing said refractory sample is extended such that said refractory sample is vaporized.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
means for accelerating the exothermic reaction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said accelerating means is oxygen gas.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said oxygen gas flows at a rate of between 4 to 6 liters/minute.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
a sample vessel for holding said refractory sample, said sample being within said heat containment member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said layer of powdered material overlies a layer of powdered aluminum.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said furnace has an upper temperature limit on the order of about 1000.degree. C.