EN 14361:2025

Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Chemical analysis - Sampling from metal melts

This document specifies criteria for sampling from aluminium and aluminium alloy melts in order to determine the chemical composition.
NOTE   For sampling from product or laboratory samples see EN 14242 or EN 14726.

Aluminium und Aluminiumlegierungen - Chemische Analyse - Probenahme von Metallschmelzen

Dieses Dokument legt Kriterien für die Probenahme von Schmelzen von Aluminium und Aluminiumlegierungen zur Bestimmung der chemischen Zusammensetzung fest.
ANMERKUNG   Für die Probenahme von Erzeugnissen oder Laborproben siehe EN 14242 oder EN 14726.

Aluminium et alliages d’aluminium - Analyse chimique - Échantillonnage du métal fondu

Le présent document spécifie les critères pour l’échantillonnage d’aluminium et d’alliages d’aluminium fondus en vue de déterminer la composition chimique.
NOTE   Pour l’échantillonnage des produits ou des échantillons pour laboratoire, voir l’EN 14242 ou l’EN 14726.

Aluminij in aluminijeve zlitine – Kemična analiza – Vzorčenje iz topljene kovine

Ta dokument določa merila za vzorčenje iz talin aluminija in aluminijevih zlitin, s čimer se določi kemijska sestava. OPOMBA: Za vzorčenje iz izdelka ali laboratorijskih vzorcev glej standard EN 14242 oziroma EN 14726.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 04-Mar-2025
• ICS: 77.040.30 - Chemical analysis of metals
• ICS: 77.120.10 - Aluminium and aluminium alloys
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 132 - Aluminium and aluminium alloys
• Drafting Committee: WG 31 - Terminology and general support
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 05-Mar-2025
• Due Date: 18-Mar-2025
• Completion Date: 05-Mar-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 14361:2025 - Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Chemical analysis - Sampling from metal melts

Relations

• Replaces: EN 14361:2004 - Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Chemical analysis - Sampling from metal melts
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Overview

EN 14361:2025 is a European standard published by CEN that defines the criteria and procedures for sampling aluminium and aluminium alloy melts for chemical analysis. This updated standard replaces EN 14361:2004, bringing improvements in sampling ladle design, mould specifications, and procedures to ensure representative and reliable chemical composition analysis of aluminium melts. It focuses on the practical requirements necessary for quality control in aluminium production processes, enabling precise and reproducible sampling from liquid metal melts.

Key Topics

• Scope and Purpose
  EN 14361:2025 establishes the requirements for sampling directly from aluminium and aluminium alloy melts to analyze chemical composition. It ensures that the sample accurately reflects the average chemical makeup of the entire melt, accounting for metallurgical phenomena like segregation.

• Sampling Equipment Design

  • Sampling Ladle: Specifies dimensions, capacity, and coatings to prevent contamination by oxides or rust, ensuring safe, practical collection of molten samples.
  • Sampling Mould: Details shape, size, and material that promote rapid solidification without casting defects, suitable for analytical techniques such as S-OES, XRF, and wet chemical analysis.

• Sampling Procedures
  The standard mandates a documented sampling plan including:

  • Pre-heating tools to avoid contamination
  • Defined sample volume and number of samples
  • Sampling locations and timing within the casting process
  • Ensuring the melt is well-mixed to produce representative samples

• Sample Quality Requirements
  Samples must be free from cracks, surface irregularities, inclusions, and shrinkage holes. Special emphasis is placed on controlling segregation and ensuring the sample's chemical composition reflects the melt.

• Equipment Maintenance and Verification
  Regular inspection, cleaning, recoating, and repair of sampling ladles and moulds to maintain conformity with dimensional and material standards are required. Records of maintenance activities are important for traceability.

• Annex A - Practical Example
  Offers a detailed example of the sampling process, emphasizing preparation and quality control measures for ladles and moulds, sampling practices, and safety considerations.

Applications

EN 14361:2025 is critical for manufacturers, quality control laboratories, and foundries involved in the production and processing of aluminium alloys. Proper sampling from metal melts per the standard supports:

• Accurate chemical compositional analysis essential for alloy certification
• Quality assurance in casting and alloying processes
• Compliance with customer and regulatory specifications for aluminium products
• Optimization of melting and casting parameters by providing representative chemical data
• Reducing risk of faulty analysis due to segregation, contamination, or sampling errors

This standard complements methods for chemical analysis in solid aluminium products and laboratory samples (EN 14242, EN 14726), ensuring a holistic approach to quality control from melt to finished product.

Related Standards

• EN 14242 – Sampling from aluminium product or laboratory samples
• EN 14726 – Sampling and analysis of aluminium alloys using spark optical emission spectrometry (S-OES)
• EN 12258-1 and EN 12258-2 – Terms and definitions related to aluminium and aluminium alloys
• ASTM E1621 – Standard for X-ray fluorescence spectrometric analysis (used for aluminium sampling surfaces)

By harmonizing with these standards, EN 14361:2025 ensures comprehensive coverage for aluminium chemical analysis workflows from melt sampling to laboratory testing.

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Ensure compliance with EN 14361:2025 to optimize aluminium melt sampling practices, improve analytical accuracy, and maintain high-quality production standards in the aluminium industry.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2025
Aluminij in aluminijeve zlitine – Kemična analiza – Vzorčenje iz topljene kovine
Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Chemical analysis - Sampling from metal melts
Aluminium und Aluminiumlegierungen - Chemische Analyse - Probenahme von
Metallschmelzen
Aluminium et alliages d'aluminium - Analyse chimique - Echantillonnage du métal fondu
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 14361:2025
ICS:
77.040.30 Kemijska analiza kovin Chemical analysis of metals
77.120.10 Aluminij in aluminijeve zlitine Aluminium and aluminium
alloys
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 14361
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
March 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 77.040.30 Supersedes EN 14361:2004
English Version
Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Chemical analysis -
Sampling from metal melts
Aluminium et alliages d'aluminium - Analyse chimique Aluminium und Aluminiumlegierungen - Chemische
- Échantillonnage du métal fondu Analyse - Probenahme von Metallschmelzen
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 3 February 2025.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 14361:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Sampling from a melt . 5
4.1 General. 5
4.2 Sampling procedure . 5
4.3 Size and coating of the sampling ladle for sampling from liquid metal . 5
4.4 Form and size of the sampling mould and of the sample taken from liquid metal . 5
4.5 Sampling plan . 6
4.6 Preparation of tools for sampling from metal melts . 6
4.7 Requirements for a sound melt sample . 6
4.8 Check of the sampling equipment . 7
Annex A (informative) Example for sampling from metal melts . 8
Bibliography . 12

European foreword
This document (EN 14361:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 132 “Aluminium
and aluminium alloys”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by September 2025, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by September 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 14361:2004.
— application of the latest template from CEN
— textual addition to the scope to make it more accurate
— new 4.3 regarding the size and coating of the sampling ladle for sampling from liquid metal
— textual addition in title of 4.6
— change in title of 4.8
— additional text to A.3.1.3
— additional text to A.3.2.1
— additional text to A.3.2.2
— change in title of A.3.3
— additional text to A.3.3.1
— additional text to A.3.3.2
— additional text to A.3.3.5
— additional text to A.3.3.8
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
Melts of aluminium alloys are susceptible to segregation when solidifying. Cast products, therefore, have
concentration gradients. Axial and radial segregation profiles affect the representative sampling from
melts, cast products or laboratory samples. In the case of direct analysis of solid samples (e.g. spark
optical emission spectrometric analysis S-OES, or X-ray fluorescence spectrometric analysis XRF)
measuring signals are influenced by the morphology of solidification and cast structure of the sample.
This document provides requirements as well as recommendations for sampling from a melt to ensure
the correspondence between the average chemical composition of the cast material and the average
composition of the test portion.
1 Scope
This document specifies criteria for sampling from aluminium and aluminium alloy melts in order to
determine the chemical composition.
NOTE For sampling from product or laboratory samples see EN 14242 or EN 14726.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 12258-1 and EN 12258-2 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
4 Sampling from a melt
4.1 General
The form and the size of a sample, the sampling plan, the preparation of the sampling tools and the
metallurgical criteria for a useful sample widely depend on local plant conditions, so this document can
only give certain required criteria.
4.2 Sampling procedure
As a part of his quality management system, the supplier of the metal (manufacturer) shall lay down and
maintain a sampling procedure which shall be in conformance with the requirements of this document
and shall reflect the special characteristics of the casting line, the alloys to be cast and the equipment of
the analytical laboratory. Any sample of liquid metal shall be taken in conformance with this procedure.
An example for sampling from metal melts is given in Annex A.
4.3 Size and coating of the sampling ladle for sampling from liquid metal
The design of the sampling ladle shall be documented with dimensions and the material used.
The ladle design shall ensure that the sampling can be done in a safe and practical manner. The form and
size shall ensure a ladle capacity to fill the sampling mould, including filler and produce a sample without
casting imperfections. The ladle shall be lightly coated with a tightly adhering coating that will serve in
part to prevent contamination of the metal with metal oxides, such as rust.
4.4 Form and size of the sampling mould and of the sample taken from liquid metal
The design of the sampling mould shall be documented with dimensions and the material used. The form
of the sample shall ensure, after sample preparation, an accurate analysis. If S-OES is used, the sample
shall allow as many sparks as required according to preliminary tests and the applicable method. If XRF
is used, the sample shall have a clean, flat and uniform surface to be exposed to X-ray beam. If wet
chemical analysis is used, the sample form shall allow a test portion of drillings, millings or small pieces
to be taken that are known, by pre-testing to be representative of the average composition of the whole
sample (e.g. a longitudinal segment).
For S-OES, EN 14726 may be used.
For XRF, ASTM 1621 may be used.
For wet analysis, EN 14242 may be used.
4.5 Sampling plan
A sampling plan shall specify:
— sample volume (defined by the sampling equipment);
— a procedure for pre-heating sampling equipment;
— number of samples to be taken including those sample(s) discarded for mould and ladle pre-heating;
— locations in the liquid metal container (e.g. furnace, crucible, trough or launder), in the cast product
where the samples shall be taken;
— timings in the melt holding or casting process when the samples shall be taken.
NOTE Other specific sampling plans can be agreed between supplier and purchaser.
The supplier of the metal shall verify with preliminary tests, that the metal at the sampling location is
sufficiently mixed so that the average chemical composition of the sample is representative of the average
chemical composition of the whole melt.
If the sample is taken from the trough or launder and any evidence exists that there might be variations
in the chemical composition of the liquid metal at particular phases of the cast, e.g. the beginning or the
end of the cast, then the samples shall be taken at such phases.
4.6 Preparation of tools for sampling from metal melts
Before each sampling, the tools shall be prepared in such a way that the liquid metal does not come into
contact with solidified aluminium, dross, moisture, iron or dust.
During the transfer from the melt to the sampling mould, the sampled liquid metal shall only come in
contact with suitable and appropriate materials which are proven
...