The feasibility of using metal oxide cloths as atomization surfaces In furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was studied. Y203 cloths were Introduced Into a preheated graphite furnace on a probe attached to the autosampler arm. This permitted evaluation of the new surfaces with little system modification. Data on temperature dependence and sensitivity for Ag, Se, Cd, and Pb were obtained. With Pb as the analyte, studies on precision and interferences were performed and compared to data obtained by using a conventional furnace program and graphite platform atomization.