Overview
EN ISO 8049:2016 - Ferronickel shot: Sampling for analysis specifies a standardized method for taking representative samples from ferronickel delivered in the form of shot (as referenced in ISO 6501). It applies when lots are made either heat-by-heat or taken from blended stock. The standard’s objective is to produce samples suitable for physico-chemical and chemical determination of element contents (for example by X‑ray fluorescence, emission spectral analysis, dry methods for carbon and sulfur, or wet chemical analysis for other elements).
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and product form
- Grain size: 3 mm to 50 mm
- Lot tonnage: ≥ 5 t (typical unit loads: trucks, containers, rail cars)
- Special limits for blended lots: parameters k and n must satisfy 15 ≤ k ≤ 59, 1 ≤ n ≤ 5, 16 ≤ k + n ≤ 60. Non‑blended lots (n ≤ 1) are not covered.
- Sampling hierarchy
- Primary increments: large increments taken from the lot to form a primary sample. Each primary increment typically ≥ 20 kg (usually 20–50 kg).
- Intermediate sample: mass‑division of the primary sample to a size suitable for laboratory transfer (typically 20–50 kg, or 10–20 kg when blending intermediate samples from several units).
- Secondary sample and secondary increments: prepared from the intermediate sample and divided into secondary increments not exceeding 1 kg each (laboratory remelting capacity).
- Remelting and preparation
- Secondary increments are remelted to produce homogeneous small ingots; these ingots are then analysed directly or machined into chips for chemical assays.
- Annexes provide statistical justification for numbers of increments (Annex A), practical random sampling methods (Annex B), and technical conditions for drilling/milling (Annex C).
- Sampling procedures
- Options for bulk sampling (structured samplers or power shovel intercepts), hand sampling when no system is available (alternate shovelling, e.g., take every 5th shovelful iteratively), drum sampling, and a simplified container‑packed method for nickel (Ni) determination.
- Table 1 (in the standard) gives minimum numbers of primary increments based on lot size and nickel content range.
Applications and users
- Who uses it:
- Smelters, ferroalloy producers, metal traders, quality laboratories, and end‑users who need defensible compositional analyses of ferronickel shot.
- Typical applications:
- Incoming quality control at steelworks and alloy users
- Contractual verification of nickel and impurity contents
- Preparing representative laboratory samples for XRF, emission spectral, C/S dry analysis, or wet chemical assays
Related standards
- ISO 6501 - form and specification of ferronickel shot
- ISO 513 - referenced for related classification matters
EN ISO 8049:2016 provides a practical, repeatable framework to obtain representative samples of ferronickel shot for reliable analytical results and contractual compliance.
