Patent ID: 6051126
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for analyzing a test specimen for metal content comprising:a. providing an electrolyte to a reservoir within a probe, said probe having an absorbent, non conductive, fiber tip and a non-conductive coating material surrounding the sides of the fiber tip leaving a limited portion of the end of the fiber tip free to contact the test specimen, said coating material defining a small, specific and repeatable area of actual contact between the fiber tip and the test specimen, and a metallic electrode in contact with the tip,b. saturating the fiber tip with the electrolyte,c. contacting a portion of the test specimen with the probe such that the area of contact between the fiber tip and the test specimen is small, specific and repeatable with respect to a test specimen,d. applying a substantially constant source of electromotive force between the electrode and the specimen,e. measuring a magnitude of an electromotive force generated by galvanic action between the electrode and a portion of the specimen contacted by the fiber probe tip, andf. comparing the magnitude obtained with the test specimen to magnitudes obtained from testing references of known metal content, to determine a relative metal content of the test specimen.