Current state of metallurgical analysis in China and its future trends
(Central Iron & Steel Research Institute, Beijing 100081, China) Abstract : The analysis & testing technology for iron and steel have made a considerable progress corresponding to the development in China. Analysis & testing institutions/setups in China can be roughly classified into two categories research work and quality supervising inspection.Chinese Society for Metals (CSM) is an academic society in metallurgical field. CSM sponsors conferences on metallurgical analysis every two year. The 14th annual conference will be held on October 2008 in Beijing. Metallurgical Analysis is a monthly publication sponsored by the analysis& testing branch of CSM. Analysis studies related to circulative production flow of iron and steel and new characterization/description techniques for properties of materials are two major research aspects from now on in Chinese metallurgical analysis & testing field. Two systems are available for the valid methods used in laboratories of China National Standard System (CAB) and National Analysis & Testing System (NAS). Accreditation is required for the CRM producers in China. Such accreditation used to be issued by trades or industries in the past, now it is uniformly carried out by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) based on ILAC Guide 13. Dual approvals from CNAS and China Meterage Accreditation(CMA) are required for the Chinese laboratories. Proficiency Testing Work Group for Metals of CNAS is responsible for designing and organizing proficiency testing schemes of metal fields.
Key words: Chinese Society for Metals; conference; CRM; valid methods; proficiency testing CLC number: 065 Document code: A
Preamble
Promoted by the powerful market demand and metallurgical technology progress (especially continuously casting technology and metallurgical shortflow technology), iron and steel industry in China is making fast strides. Crude steel output has amounted to 349.361 5 million tons in 2005,
increased by 24.56 % compared to that of 2004, pigiron output to 330. 404 7 million tons,increased by 28.19% and steel output to 371.170 2 milliontons, increased 24.13% . Annua amount of imported steel was 25. 816 2 million tons while that of exported steel was 20. 522 6 million tons, the balance was net import 5. 293 6 million tons.
Scales of iron and steel enterprises in China are becoming larger. At present 8 iron and steel enter prises have annual outputs up to 10 million tons,and 10 enterprises have annual outputs up to 5 million tons, and 10 have annual outputs to 3 million tons.
In 2005, following aspects in iron and steelindustry had made noticeable technical progress:new products, quality improvement, productstructure adjustment, environment protection, energy consumption saving, comprehensive utilizationand etc. The proportion of long length materialsdecreased to 52.21% from 54.47 %, while that of plate and sheet materials rised up to 38.56 % from 36.24%. Energy consumption per ton steel dropped down to 714.12 kg standard coal from 755.29 kgIll.
From now on, research and development metallurgical industry will much focus on the devel opment of circulative metallurgical techniques in order to realize clean production, comprehensive circulation of metallurgical materials and energy balance. Meanwhile, attention will also be paid to the development of new types of steel which possesshigh performance and long life, especially steel(super steel) with high purity, high homogeneityand fine crystal grains.
With the development of iron and steel industry, analysis & testing technology in China, especially analysis & testing technology for iron and steel have made remarkable progress[2-4]2 General introduction of analysis& testing institutions/setups in Chinese iron and steel industry
Roughly institutions/setups of analysis &testing in China can be classified as two categories:comprehensive institutions mainly undertaking analysis and testing research work and setups conducting quality supervising, however certain over lapping exists between them.
2.1 Comprehensive analysis & testing researchinstitutions
2.1.1 National class analysis & testing centers
There are 13 national class analysis & testingcenters for different technical fields in China. Generally these analysis & testing centers are in largescale with complete specialities. They undertakeleading and important research work related toanalysis and testing technology in'the specific field, serve as the most authoritative national arbitration agency for the field, take on the
tasks of drafting,developing and promoting national analysis & test-ing standards and training high quality technicians for laboratories.
National Analysis Center for Iron and Steel(NACIS), which is set up in Central Iron & SteelResearch Institute(CISRI), is the national classanalysis & testing center for iron and steel field.NACIS has 260 technicians, consisting of depart-ments of chemical analysis, physical analysis, me-chanical testing, non-destructive testing, meter-ing, reference materials development, new analysistechnology and instruments development, post-graduate education, affiliated instruments factoryand etc. NACIS undertakes over 20 national analy-sis & testing research projects, develops over 10reference materials and publishes approximate 100papers every year.
2.1.2 Analysis & testing centers of special research institutes and ministries
Analysis & test-ing centers of special research institutes and min-istries are mainly established by research institutesand ministries according to their own special re-quirements. Now overall 35 such centers have reg-istered nationwide, mainly conducting common in-ternal analysis or testing work within establishingunits, and also external analysis or testing taskstrusted by other units.
2.1.3 Analysis& testing centers of chemistrydepartments of universities These centers mainlyconduct fundamental researches. 41 universities have established this sort of centers.
2.1.4 Provincial class analysis & testing centers
There are 20 provincial grade analysis & testingcenters national wide. They mainly undertake localanalysis and testing work.
2.1.5 Analysis laboratories (centers) of technical centers (institutes) of large scale enterprises These laboratories (centers) are established by en-terprises according to their own requirements fo quality control and development of process and materials.
2.2 Quality supervising & inspection authorities
2.2.1 National product quality supervising &inspection centers These centers are in charge of the quality supervising & inspection of the prod-ucts circulated in the market and supervising & in-spection tasks assigned by state. Over 240 nationalproduct quality supervising & inspection centers,set up as per product categories, have been estab-lished. Three of them are for iron and steel field,i.e. national product quality supervising 8z inspec-tion centers for iron and steel materials, buildingmaterials and metal products.
2.2.2 Entry- exit inspection and quarantinelaboratories These laboratories, which are located at sites of entry- exit customs, are in charge ofthe inspection and quarantine works for importedand exported commodities. 555 such centers hadbeen established national wide, and inspection andquarantine laboratories for metal materials such asiron and steel are usually set in large- scale customs.
2.2.3 Product quality supervising & inspectioncenters of ministries These centers, which are established by trades or ministries, mainly under- take the quality supervising & inspection works for specialities or products assigned by ministries. 2 329 such centers have been built national wide, 35 of which are for iron and steel field, includingquality supervising & inspection centers dealing with non-destructive testing, metallurgical device, metallurgical heat energy, metallurgical coking, metallurgical building, metallurgical mines, iron ore concentrate, steel drill, refractory materials, metallurgical environment protection and etc.
2.2.4 Local and enterprise laboratories Product quality supervising & examining laboratories for some special local products are also established in some places in China. Many enterprises had also built laboratories especially for their own require- ments. 15 675 laboratories of these two sorts have been registered in China.
2.3 Chinese Society for MetalsChinese Society for Metals is an academicbody in metallurgical field. Analysis & TestingBranch is one of its 35 affiliates. 6 special technicalcommittees are affiliated to the Analysis & TestingBranch, i.e. Quality Control and InformatioCommittee, Spectrometry Committee, Wet Chem-ical Analysis Committee, Metallurgical Gas Analysis Committee, Status Analysis Committee, Non-destructive Testing Committee, Physical TestingCommittee and Mechanical Testing Committee.
Chinese Society for Metals sponsors confer-ences on material analysis & testing technology every another year (in even year). The contents ofthis conference cover comprehensive reviews withforward looking on material analysis & testingtechnology, achievements of analysis & testing techniques and methods, technical reports on anal-ysis & testing techniques related to production process and quality control. The 13th annual conference was held October 2006, in Beijing. The conference consisted of one plenary for specially invited lectures, 8 academic sessions, 2 special topic forums, 1 exhibition for new analysis & testing instruments, new products and new technological achievements.
2.4 Publications
As a publication sponsored by Analysis & Testing Branch of Chinese Society for Metals, Metallurgical Analysis is a monthly journal, which mainly publishes papers related to metallurgical analysis & testing technology. It consists of re search reports, comprehensive reviews, brief technical reports, special topic discussions and etc. Papers can be published in Chinese or English with bilingual (Chinese and English) abstracts. The ef-fect factor of Metallurgical Analysis is among the best of publications in metallurgical field in China.
3 Technical activities about metal-lurgical analysis & testing
3.1 Researches
Major research projects in China are mainlyfrom national science and technology developmentplan, such as recently issued the Medium- Termand Long- Term Science and Technology Development Plan Outline of State (2006 - 2020) . Researchers can put forward applications to corresponding authorities according to the plan guide.And the project can only be approved and set up after the application has passed the evaluation of special committee consisting of qualified experts. Besides national projects, local development plans or special projects are also a non-negligible source of research projects. With the development of economics, expenses put into research and development by enterprises are also increasing.
Main supporting areas specified in national plans for analysis & testing research are fundamental study, instrument technology, new method development and techniques associated forming complete set. At present, main research aspects of metallurgical analysis & testing in China focus on:
(1) Analysis and testing technology associatedwith circulative production flow of iron and steel. To develop analysis and testing technology as-sociated with production process, energy transforming and resources regeneration, for exampleanalysis & testing techniques related wastes transforming process or hot state analysis. Combiningthese analysis & testing techniques with new production process would allow an on-line closed loopcontrol system for full production flow to beformed.
(2) Characterization/description techniques ofnew iron and steel materialsTo develop characterization/description techniques on high purity, high homogeneity and fincrystal grain steel, such as techniques on trace elements analysis and status testing, characterizationtechniques for
statistic distribution of componentsand status, new characterization methods on service performance of materials and etc.
3.2 Systems of analysis and testing methods
V alid methods used in Chinese laboratories canbe basicly classed as two catalogies, i.e. methods
recommended by National Standard System (GB)and methods recommended by National Analysis Testing System (NAS). Other methods may alsobe validly adopted by laboratories after they are accredited.
3.2.1 Methods recommended by National Stan-dard System 283 special technical committees are under national standard system. Analysis and testing activities normally act as sub-committees under corresponding technical committees according speciality. TC183 indicates iron and steel technical committee, of which SC1 represents technical subcommittee for chemical composition determination for iron and steel, which corresponds to ISO/TC17/SC1.
Standard methods for instrument analysis and trace element analysis have being improved and completed further in 1990's and recent years. Atpresent there are overall 91 national standards foriron and steel analysis in China, 43 items in total are covered, namely C, Si, Mn, P , S, NJ, Ct,Mo, Cu, V, Co, Ti, Al, Fe, W, Nb, Ta, Zr,B, Ca, Mg, Ba, Zn, As, Ph, Sn, Sb, Bi, O, N,H, Ce, Sc, Ag, Ge, Ga, In, T1, Se, Te, Cd, total amount of rare earths (RE), hydrochloric acidinsolubles and etc. Measured content ranges forsome elements are from 0.000 01% and 90%.Analysis means consist of wet chemical analysismethods (gravimetric method, titration method,spectrophotometric method, polarographic method,atomic absorption spectrometry, atomic fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma~atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) andetc), and solid sample analysis methods (fusinginfrared absorption method, fusing-thermal conductivity method, spark source emission spectrometry , X ray fluorescent spectrometry, glow discharge-atomic emission spectrometry (GD-OES)and etc. ).
3.2.2 National Analysis & Testing SystemBecause national standard method system can not fully satisfy the requirements of large amount of analysis work of laboratories, National Analysis & Testing System (NAS) has been established inChina, which acts as the supplementary of national standard methods. NAS methods are recognized analysis & testing methods and
cover various specialties. Methods related to metallic specialty are in charged by Chinese Society of Metals and issued in the form of recommendation methods of Chinese Society of Metals (CSM- standards). NAS methods have features of practicability accurate, reliable and easy operation, and polyphyly multimethods coexisting is allowable in precondition ofcomparability, and systematicality forming se-ries as per measured objects and covering as manymeasured items as possible, and advance ab-sorbing new technologies and methods, and dy-namic- renewing in time. At the present, morethan 3 000 recommended CSM - standards havebeen issued, classified into 10 categories, i.e. oreanalysis, refractory material analysis, ferroalloy analysis, metallurgical material analysis, indissoluble and intermediate alloy analysis, iron and steel analysis, other metallic products analysis, status analysis, analysis of gas elements in metals. A-mong these CSM methods, 1 192 methods are foriron and steel materials, covering 6 types of materials (pig iron, low alloy steel, alloy steel, toolsteel, superalloy and metallic functional materials)and 43 measuring items.
3.3 Metallurgical CRM development in China
Accreditation is required for the CRM produc-ers in China. Such accreditation use to be issued by trades or industries in the past, now it is uniformly carried out by China National Accreditation Servicefor Comformity Assessment (CNAS) based on I-LAC Guide 13. For CRMs produced in China,generally, besides self-certification, national certifications from National Meterage System (GBW),National Standard System (GSB) or certifications from trades/industries (such as Metallurgy Certification (YSB) and National Grade Analysis CenterCertification (NCS)) are also required.
3.4 Accreditation and proficiency testing activities of metallurgical analysis & testing laborato.ries in China
3.4.1 ISO 17025 accreditation
(1) Metrology accreditation (CMA)
Metrology accreditation is a legally forced ac-creditation in China organized 'by Chinese metrology system based on the Chinese metrology laws.The criteria of CMA is ISO 17 025. Now more than 16 000 laboratories had passed the CMA.
(2) Laboratory accreditation (CNAS)
China National Accreditation Service for Com-formity Assesment (CNAS) is responsible f6r
organizing the accreditation of laboratories (CNAS) .On the voluntary basis, any laboratory can apply for laboratory accreditation regardless if it provides valid data to public. The criteria of CNAS accredi tation is ISO 17 025. Because CNAS is a member of ILAC, its approval is mutually recognized among 55 countries. At present 2 771 laboratories have achieved the approval of CNAS. Generally, in order to ensure the legal effect and international mutual recognition of the provided data, dual approvals from CNAS (laboratory accreditation) andCMA (meterage accreditation) are required for the laboratories which are authorized to provide legallyvalid data to public.
3.4.2 Proficiency testing activities In general,China National Accreditation Service for Comformity Assesment (CNAS) is responsible for organizing proficiency testing activities in China. Proficiency testing work group of metals of CNAS is re-sponsible for planning and coordinating proficiency testing projects for metals. As an investigation and project implementing institution for proficiency testing technology, China NIL Research Center of Proficiency Testing had organized 355 projects from 1999 to 2005, and up to 3 410 laboratories have been involved, including 137 laboratories from 37 foreign countries.
References[ 1 ]Wei Baoren, YAGITA H. Forecast of Yearly Productionand Energy Denland ii1 Chinese Steel Industry [J]. China
Current state of metallurgical analysis in China and its future trends
(Central Iron & Steel Research Institute, Beijing 100081, China) Abstract : The analysis & testing technology for iron and steel have made a considerable progress corresponding to the development in China. Analysis & testing institutions/setups in China can be roughly classified into two categories research work and quality supervising inspection.Chinese Society for Metals (CSM) is an academic society in metallurgical field. CSM sponsors conferences on metallurgical analysis every two year. The 14th annual conference will be held on October 2008 in Beijing. Metallurgical Analysis is a monthly publication sponsored by the analysis& testing branch of CSM. Analysis studies related to circulative production flow of iron and steel and new characterization/description techniques for properties of materials are two major research aspects from now on in Chinese metallurgical analysis & testing field. Two systems are available for the valid methods used in laboratories of China National Standard System (CAB) and National Analysis & Testing System (NAS). Accreditation is required for the CRM producers in China. Such accreditation used to be issued by trades or industries in the past, now it is uniformly carried out by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) based on ILAC Guide 13. Dual approvals from CNAS and China Meterage Accreditation(CMA) are required for the Chinese laboratories. Proficiency Testing Work Group for Metals of CNAS is responsible for designing and organizing proficiency testing schemes of metal fields.
Key words: Chinese Society for Metals; conference; CRM; valid methods; proficiency testing CLC number: 065 Document code: A
Preamble
Promoted by the powerful market demand and metallurgical technology progress (especially continuously casting technology and metallurgical shortflow technology), iron and steel industry in China is making fast strides. Crude steel output has amounted to 349.361 5 million tons in 2005,
increased by 24.56 % compared to that of 2004, pigiron output to 330. 404 7 million tons,increased by 28.19% and steel output to 371.170 2 milliontons, increased 24.13% . Annua amount of imported steel was 25. 816 2 million tons while that of exported steel was 20. 522 6 million tons, the balance was net import 5. 293 6 million tons.
Scales of iron and steel enterprises in China are becoming larger. At present 8 iron and steel enter prises have annual outputs up to 10 million tons,and 10 enterprises have annual outputs up to 5 million tons, and 10 have annual outputs to 3 million tons.
In 2005, following aspects in iron and steelindustry had made noticeable technical progress:new products, quality improvement, productstructure adjustment, environment protection, energy consumption saving, comprehensive utilizationand etc. The proportion of long length materialsdecreased to 52.21% from 54.47 %, while that of plate and sheet materials rised up to 38.56 % from 36.24%. Energy consumption per ton steel dropped down to 714.12 kg standard coal from 755.29 kgIll.
From now on, research and development metallurgical industry will much focus on the devel opment of circulative metallurgical techniques in order to realize clean production, comprehensive circulation of metallurgical materials and energy balance. Meanwhile, attention will also be paid to the development of new types of steel which possesshigh performance and long life, especially steel(super steel) with high purity, high homogeneityand fine crystal grains.
With the development of iron and steel industry, analysis & testing technology in China, especially analysis & testing technology for iron and steel have made remarkable progress[2-4]2 General introduction of analysis& testing institutions/setups in Chinese iron and steel industry
Roughly institutions/setups of analysis &testing in China can be classified as two categories:comprehensive institutions mainly undertaking analysis and testing research work and setups conducting quality supervising, however certain over lapping exists between them.
2.1 Comprehensive analysis & testing researchinstitutions
2.1.1 National class analysis & testing centers
There are 13 national class analysis & testingcenters for different technical fields in China. Generally these analysis & testing centers are in largescale with complete specialities. They undertakeleading and important research work related toanalysis and testing technology in'the specific field, serve as the most authoritative national arbitration agency for the field, take on the
tasks of drafting,developing and promoting national analysis & test-ing standards and training high quality technicians for laboratories.
National Analysis Center for Iron and Steel(NACIS), which is set up in Central Iron & SteelResearch Institute(CISRI), is the national classanalysis & testing center for iron and steel field.NACIS has 260 technicians, consisting of depart-ments of chemical analysis, physical analysis, me-chanical testing, non-destructive testing, meter-ing, reference materials development, new analysistechnology and instruments development, post-graduate education, affiliated instruments factoryand etc. NACIS undertakes over 20 national analy-sis & testing research projects, develops over 10reference materials and publishes approximate 100papers every year.
2.1.2 Analysis & testing centers of special research institutes and ministries
Analysis & test-ing centers of special research institutes and min-istries are mainly established by research institutesand ministries according to their own special re-quirements. Now overall 35 such centers have reg-istered nationwide, mainly conducting common in-ternal analysis or testing work within establishingunits, and also external analysis or testing taskstrusted by other units.
2.1.3 Analysis& testing centers of chemistrydepartments of universities These centers mainlyconduct fundamental researches. 41 universities have established this sort of centers.
2.1.4 Provincial class analysis & testing centers
There are 20 provincial grade analysis & testingcenters national wide. They mainly undertake localanalysis and testing work.
2.1.5 Analysis laboratories (centers) of technical centers (institutes) of large scale enterprises These laboratories (centers) are established by en-terprises according to their own requirements fo quality control and development of process and materials.
2.2 Quality supervising & inspection authorities
2.2.1 National product quality supervising &inspection centers These centers are in charge of the quality supervising & inspection of the prod-ucts circulated in the market and supervising & in-spection tasks assigned by state. Over 240 nationalproduct quality supervising & inspection centers,set up as per product categories, have been estab-lished. Three of them are for iron and steel field,i.e. national product quality supervising 8z inspec-tion centers for iron and steel materials, buildingmaterials and metal products.
2.2.2 Entry- exit inspection and quarantinelaboratories These laboratories, which are located at sites of entry- exit customs, are in charge ofthe inspection and quarantine works for importedand exported commodities. 555 such centers hadbeen established national wide, and inspection andquarantine laboratories for metal materials such asiron and steel are usually set in large- scale customs.
2.2.3 Product quality supervising & inspectioncenters of ministries These centers, which are established by trades or ministries, mainly under- take the quality supervising & inspection works for specialities or products assigned by ministries. 2 329 such centers have been built national wide, 35 of which are for iron and steel field, includingquality supervising & inspection centers dealing with non-destructive testing, metallurgical device, metallurgical heat energy, metallurgical coking, metallurgical building, metallurgical mines, iron ore concentrate, steel drill, refractory materials, metallurgical environment protection and etc.
2.2.4 Local and enterprise laboratories Product quality supervising & examining laboratories for some special local products are also established in some places in China. Many enterprises had also built laboratories especially for their own require- ments. 15 675 laboratories of these two sorts have been registered in China.
2.3 Chinese Society for MetalsChinese Society for Metals is an academicbody in metallurgical field. Analysis & TestingBranch is one of its 35 affiliates. 6 special technicalcommittees are affiliated to the Analysis & TestingBranch, i.e. Quality Control and InformatioCommittee, Spectrometry Committee, Wet Chem-ical Analysis Committee, Metallurgical Gas Analysis Committee, Status Analysis Committee, Non-destructive Testing Committee, Physical TestingCommittee and Mechanical Testing Committee.
Chinese Society for Metals sponsors confer-ences on material analysis & testing technology every another year (in even year). The contents ofthis conference cover comprehensive reviews withforward looking on material analysis & testingtechnology, achievements of analysis & testing techniques and methods, technical reports on anal-ysis & testing techniques related to production process and quality control. The 13th annual conference was held October 2006, in Beijing. The conference consisted of one plenary for specially invited lectures, 8 academic sessions, 2 special topic forums, 1 exhibition for new analysis & testing instruments, new products and new technological achievements.
2.4 Publications
As a publication sponsored by Analysis & Testing Branch of Chinese Society for Metals, Metallurgical Analysis is a monthly journal, which mainly publishes papers related to metallurgical analysis & testing technology. It consists of re search reports, comprehensive reviews, brief technical reports, special topic discussions and etc. Papers can be published in Chinese or English with bilingual (Chinese and English) abstracts. The ef-fect factor of Metallurgical Analysis is among the best of publications in metallurgical field in China.
3 Technical activities about metal-lurgical analysis & testing
3.1 Researches
Major research projects in China are mainlyfrom national science and technology developmentplan, such as recently issued the Medium- Termand Long- Term Science and Technology Development Plan Outline of State (2006 - 2020) . Researchers can put forward applications to corresponding authorities according to the plan guide.And the project can only be approved and set up after the application has passed the evaluation of special committee consisting of qualified experts. Besides national projects, local development plans or special projects are also a non-negligible source of research projects. With the development of economics, expenses put into research and development by enterprises are also increasing.
Main supporting areas specified in national plans for analysis & testing research are fundamental study, instrument technology, new method development and techniques associated forming complete set. At present, main research aspects of metallurgical analysis & testing in China focus on:
(1) Analysis and testing technology associatedwith circulative production flow of iron and steel. To develop analysis and testing technology as-sociated with production process, energy transforming and resources regeneration, for exampleanalysis & testing techniques related wastes transforming process or hot state analysis. Combiningthese analysis & testing techniques with new production process would allow an on-line closed loopcontrol system for full production flow to beformed.
(2) Characterization/description techniques ofnew iron and steel materialsTo develop characterization/description techniques on high purity, high homogeneity and fincrystal grain steel, such as techniques on trace elements analysis and status testing, characterizationtechniques for
statistic distribution of componentsand status, new characterization methods on service performance of materials and etc.
3.2 Systems of analysis and testing methods
V alid methods used in Chinese laboratories canbe basicly classed as two catalogies, i.e. methods
recommended by National Standard System (GB)and methods recommended by National Analysis Testing System (NAS). Other methods may alsobe validly adopted by laboratories after they are accredited.
3.2.1 Methods recommended by National Stan-dard System 283 special technical committees are under national standard system. Analysis and testing activities normally act as sub-committees under corresponding technical committees according speciality. TC183 indicates iron and steel technical committee, of which SC1 represents technical subcommittee for chemical composition determination for iron and steel, which corresponds to ISO/TC17/SC1.
Standard methods for instrument analysis and trace element analysis have being improved and completed further in 1990's and recent years. Atpresent there are overall 91 national standards foriron and steel analysis in China, 43 items in total are covered, namely C, Si, Mn, P , S, NJ, Ct,Mo, Cu, V, Co, Ti, Al, Fe, W, Nb, Ta, Zr,B, Ca, Mg, Ba, Zn, As, Ph, Sn, Sb, Bi, O, N,H, Ce, Sc, Ag, Ge, Ga, In, T1, Se, Te, Cd, total amount of rare earths (RE), hydrochloric acidinsolubles and etc. Measured content ranges forsome elements are from 0.000 01% and 90%.Analysis means consist of wet chemical analysismethods (gravimetric method, titration method,spectrophotometric method, polarographic method,atomic absorption spectrometry, atomic fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma~atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) andetc), and solid sample analysis methods (fusinginfrared absorption method, fusing-thermal conductivity method, spark source emission spectrometry , X ray fluorescent spectrometry, glow discharge-atomic emission spectrometry (GD-OES)and etc. ).
3.2.2 National Analysis & Testing SystemBecause national standard method system can not fully satisfy the requirements of large amount of analysis work of laboratories, National Analysis & Testing System (NAS) has been established inChina, which acts as the supplementary of national standard methods. NAS methods are recognized analysis & testing methods and
cover various specialties. Methods related to metallic specialty are in charged by Chinese Society of Metals and issued in the form of recommendation methods of Chinese Society of Metals (CSM- standards). NAS methods have features of practicability accurate, reliable and easy operation, and polyphyly multimethods coexisting is allowable in precondition ofcomparability, and systematicality forming se-ries as per measured objects and covering as manymeasured items as possible, and advance ab-sorbing new technologies and methods, and dy-namic- renewing in time. At the present, morethan 3 000 recommended CSM - standards havebeen issued, classified into 10 categories, i.e. oreanalysis, refractory material analysis, ferroalloy analysis, metallurgical material analysis, indissoluble and intermediate alloy analysis, iron and steel analysis, other metallic products analysis, status analysis, analysis of gas elements in metals. A-mong these CSM methods, 1 192 methods are foriron and steel materials, covering 6 types of materials (pig iron, low alloy steel, alloy steel, toolsteel, superalloy and metallic functional materials)and 43 measuring items.
3.3 Metallurgical CRM development in China
Accreditation is required for the CRM produc-ers in China. Such accreditation use to be issued by trades or industries in the past, now it is uniformly carried out by China National Accreditation Servicefor Comformity Assessment (CNAS) based on I-LAC Guide 13. For CRMs produced in China,generally, besides self-certification, national certifications from National Meterage System (GBW),National Standard System (GSB) or certifications from trades/industries (such as Metallurgy Certification (YSB) and National Grade Analysis CenterCertification (NCS)) are also required.
3.4 Accreditation and proficiency testing activities of metallurgical analysis & testing laborato.ries in China
3.4.1 ISO 17025 accreditation
(1) Metrology accreditation (CMA)
Metrology accreditation is a legally forced ac-creditation in China organized 'by Chinese metrology system based on the Chinese metrology laws.The criteria of CMA is ISO 17 025. Now more than 16 000 laboratories had passed the CMA.
(2) Laboratory accreditation (CNAS)
China National Accreditation Service for Com-formity Assesment (CNAS) is responsible f6r
organizing the accreditation of laboratories (CNAS) .On the voluntary basis, any laboratory can apply for laboratory accreditation regardless if it provides valid data to public. The criteria of CNAS accredi tation is ISO 17 025. Because CNAS is a member of ILAC, its approval is mutually recognized among 55 countries. At present 2 771 laboratories have achieved the approval of CNAS. Generally, in order to ensure the legal effect and international mutual recognition of the provided data, dual approvals from CNAS (laboratory accreditation) andCMA (meterage accreditation) are required for the laboratories which are authorized to provide legallyvalid data to public.
3.4.2 Proficiency testing activities In general,China National Accreditation Service for Comformity Assesment (CNAS) is responsible for organizing proficiency testing activities in China. Proficiency testing work group of metals of CNAS is re-sponsible for planning and coordinating proficiency testing projects for metals. As an investigation and project implementing institution for proficiency testing technology, China NIL Research Center of Proficiency Testing had organized 355 projects from 1999 to 2005, and up to 3 410 laboratories have been involved, including 137 laboratories from 37 foreign countries.
References[ 1 ]Wei Baoren, YAGITA H. Forecast of Yearly Productionand Energy Denland ii1 Chinese Steel Industry [J]. China