Abstract： Four kinds of major elements and thirteen kinds of trace elements in nuclear grade zirconium alloys were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The major elements such as tin, niobium, iron, chromium and trace elements such as aluminum, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, silicon, tantalum, titanium, vanadium, tungsten were successfully determined by matrix matching with high-purity sponge zirconium and main alloying elements and selecting appropriate spectral line as the analysis line for determined elements. Tin, iron, chromium and nickel in NIST 360b zirconium alloy were determined, with determined results in consistency with the standard values given in the standard substance certificate. The results for addition standard recovery test of nuclear grade zirconium alloy showed that except that the recovery of tantalum was low and the recoveries of aluminum and lead were high, all the recoveries of niobium, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, magnesium, manganese, silicon, titanium, vanadium and tungsten were between 92% to 108%. The determined results of this method was stable, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the determined results within three days were below 6%, that met the requirement (RSD<10%) of Westinghouse certification standard.
