Overview
ISO 8049:2016 - "Ferronickel shot - Sampling for analysis" specifies a standardized method for taking representative samples from ferronickel delivered in the form of shot (see ISO 6501). The standard covers sampling procedures for lots composed either heat-by-heat or from blended stock, and defines how to obtain primary, intermediate and secondary samples for physical (e.g., X‑ray fluorescence, emission spectroscopy) and chemical analysis (including dry methods for carbon and sulfur).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Product form and limits: grain size 3 mm to 50 mm; lot tonnage ≥ 5 t.
- Sampling strategy: different procedures for blended lots versus single-heat lots (single heats are treated as internally homogeneous).
- Primary increments: for bulk sampling, each primary increment should be at least 20 kg (typically 20–50 kg). The required number of increments depends on lot tonnage and nickel-content range.
- Intermediate sample: obtained by blending and mass division of primary increments to a practical laboratory mass (commonly 20–50 kg; can be reduced to 10–20 kg in some cases). Use of riffle dividers or alternate shovelling is specified.
- Secondary sample and remelting: the intermediate sample is reduced to the mass to be remelted. Secondary increments (small ingots) are produced by remelting to ensure within‑ingot homogeneity; typical maximum mass for a small ingot is 1 kg (lab furnace constraint).
- Container and drum packing: special provisions for drum-packed lots (take ≥1 kg per drum to reach >20 kg) and a simplified, Ni‑only container-packed procedure for customer-side checks (sampling ~16 portions ≈ 5 kg each to form ~80 kg, then divide to twin ~5 kg samples).
- Statistical and procedural support: Annexes provide justification for increment counts, random sampling rules, and technical guidance for drilling/milling.
Applications and users
ISO 8049:2016 is used by:
- Producers and suppliers of ferronickel to certify lot composition
- Quality control and metallurgy laboratories performing Ni, C, S and trace‑element analyses
- Purchasing and inspection teams at end‑user foundries, steelworks and alloy consumers
- Third‑party inspectors and customs labs resolving quality disputes
Practical benefits include reproducible sampling, defensible lot acceptance decisions, and consistent analytical results for process control and contractual compliance.
Related standards
- ISO 6501 (ferronickel shot specification) - referenced as the product definition
- ISO 513 - listed in normative references
Keywords: ISO 8049:2016, ferronickel shot, sampling for analysis, nickel content, primary sample, intermediate sample, secondary sample, remelting, riffle divider, blended lots.
