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History

ArcelorMittal Group is the leader in the steel industry on four continents, putting it in first place in all major customer sectors. The Maizières campus constitutes the Group’s largest research site. The sophisticated research facilities and equipment enable the development of the steel products and steel applications of the future, the simulation of the manufacturing steps, and the optimization of our plant manufacturing processes.

Production of Reference Materials (RM) has started in 1950s at IRSID St Germain-en-Laye and IRSID Maizières-lès-Metz. In the 1990s, all production is grouped in IRSID Maizières-lès-Metz, and continues after transition to ArcelorMittal Maizières.

Production of Reference Materials

The production of a Reference Material is done in 3 main stages:

1. Sample preparation
   • We define a candidate by the study of market needs;
   • We collect and prepare the sample (natural or industrial product);
   • We make homogeneity tests to ensure validity of the material.
2. Interlaboratory circuit
   • Several labs participate in the circuit, from France and abroad (~15-20 labs);
   • Each lab makes analyses under repeatability conditions;
   • Statistical evaluations are made to define reference values and standard deviations;
3. Sale
   • A certificate is issued – comprising the name of the material, the reference values and standard deviations for several elements, and some other information;
   • The material is prepared for sale (cutting of discs, bottling of divided samples);
   • Communication is made to our official retailer and our fellow producers.

Classification of our Reference Materials

Two categories of samples are produced by ArcelorMittal Maizières:

• “IR” samples: Reference Materials for which the composition has been determined within a comparison circuit between several laboratories (labs use spectroscopic and/or chemical methods – reference values are only determined according to chemical methods);
• “Euronorm-CRM” samples: European Certified Reference Materials, for which the composition has been determined within a certification circuit between several laboratories (by absolute chemical methods),  on behalf of The Iron and Steel Nomenclature Co-ordinating Committee (COCOR) of the ECISS (European Committee for Iron and Steel Standardization).

Non alloy steels

IR 16xx
Euronorm-CRM 0xx-x

Low alloy steels

IR 17xx
Euronorm-CRM 1xx-x

High alloy steels

IR 18xx
Euronorm-CRM 2xx-x

Ferro-alloys

Euronorm-CRM 5xx-x

Ores, concentrates, sinters

Euronorm-CRM 6xx-x

Additives and refractories

IR 27xx
Euronorm-CRM 7xx-x

By-products (slags, dusts…)

Euronorm-CRM 8xx-x

ArcelorMittal Reference Materials are available in two forms (depending on the material):

• Discs for spectroscopic analysis;
• Divided samples – powder or chips – for all kind of chemical analysis.

Definitions

According to ISO Guide 30:

Reference material (RM):

material, sufficiently homogeneous and stable with respect to one or more specified properties, which has been established to be fit for its intended use in a measurement process.

Certified reference material (CRM):

reference material (RM) characterized by a metrologically valid procedure for one or more specified properties, accompanied by an RM certificate that provides the value of the specified property, its associated uncertainty, and a statement of metrological traceability.