This International Standard specifies a method for the chemical analysis of refractory and technical ceramic raw materials, intermediates and products, by means of the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) fused cast-bead method. Typical materials that can be analysed by this standard are given in Clause 3. This International Standard is not applicable to non-oxide materials, such as silicon carbides or nitrides, etc. The method is applicable to a wide range of materials containing a wide range of elements. NOTE 1 The presence of significant amounts of certain elements, such as tin, copper, zinc and chromium, can present difficulties in the fusion process. In this case, the Bibliography can be referred to. NOTE 2 Constituents at concentrations greater than 99 % (on a dried basis) are reported by difference, provided that all likely minor constituents and any loss on ignition have been determined. These figures can also be checked by direct determination.