Calculate the X factor from phosphorus, antimony, tin, and arsenic concentrations in ppm or percent, applying P×10, Sb×5, Sn×4, and As weights.
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X Factor Formula
The X factor is calculated from the phosphorus, antimony, tin, and arsenic content of a material. All four inputs are converted to ppm before the final calculation.
If an input is entered as a percent, the calculator first converts it to ppm:
- X = X factor
- P = phosphorus content in ppm
- Sb = antimony content in ppm
- Sn = tin content in ppm
- As = arsenic content in ppm
- C_percent = concentration entered as a percent
- C_ppm = concentration converted to parts per million
The calculator accepts each element in either ppm or percent. If you choose ppm, the value is used directly. If you choose percent, the value is multiplied by 10,000 to convert it to ppm. The converted values are then weighted in the X factor formula. Phosphorus has the largest weight, followed by antimony, tin, and arsenic.
X Factor Input Conversion Reference
Use this table to check how percent values relate to ppm values before they are used in the X factor calculation.
| Percent | ppm Equivalent | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001% | 10 ppm | 0.001 × 10,000 |
| 0.005% | 50 ppm | 0.005 × 10,000 |
| 0.010% | 100 ppm | 0.010 × 10,000 |
| 0.050% | 500 ppm | 0.050 × 10,000 |
| 0.100% | 1,000 ppm | 0.100 × 10,000 |
X Factor Example
Example 1: All inputs in ppm
Suppose you have these values:
- Phosphorus = 80 ppm
- Antimony = 20 ppm
- Tin = 30 ppm
- Arsenic = 10 ppm
The X factor is 10.3000.
Example 2: Mixed ppm and percent inputs
Suppose phosphorus is entered as a percent and the other values are entered in ppm:
- Phosphorus = 0.006% = 60 ppm
- Antimony = 15 ppm
- Tin = 25 ppm
- Arsenic = 8 ppm
The X factor is 7.8300.
X Factor Calculator FAQ
What does the X factor measure?
The X factor is a weighted value based on phosphorus, antimony, tin, and arsenic content. It is commonly used as an index for trace element effects in alloy and steel evaluations. A higher X factor means the weighted concentration of these elements is higher.
Do I need to enter every element?
Yes. The calculator requires values for phosphorus, antimony, tin, and arsenic. If one element is not present or is below detection limits, enter 0 for that field instead of leaving it blank.
Why is phosphorus weighted more heavily than arsenic?
The formula assigns different weights to each element. Phosphorus is multiplied by 10, antimony by 5, tin by 4, and arsenic by 1. This means phosphorus has the largest effect on the final X factor for the same ppm concentration.
