Korean Journal of Materials Research (한국재료학회지)

Materials Research Society of Korea (한국재료학회)
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Optimization of Analytical Condition for Reliable and Accurate Measurement of Carbon Concentration in Carburized Steel by EPMA

EPMA를 이용한 침탄강의 정확하고 신뢰성 있는 탄소농도 측정을 위한 분석조건 최적화

  • Gi-Hoon Kwon (Heat & Surface Technology R&D Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology) ;
  • Hyunjun Park (Heat & Surface Technology R&D Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology) ;
  • Byoungho Choi (Heat & Surface Technology R&D Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology) ;
  • Young-Kook Lee (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University) ;
  • Kyoungil Moon (Heat & Surface Technology R&D Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology)
  • 권기훈 (한국생산기술연구원 친환경열표면처리연구부문) ;
  • 박현준 (한국생산기술연구원 친환경열표면처리연구부문) ;
  • 최병호 (한국생산기술연구원 친환경열표면처리연구부문) ;
  • 이영국 (연세대학교 신소재공학과) ;
  • 문경일 (한국생산기술연구원 친환경열표면처리연구부문)
  • Received : 2023.02.07
  • Accepted : 2023.03.06
  • Published : 2023.03.27
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Abstract

The carbon concentration in the carburized steels was measured by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) for a range of soluted carbon content in austenite from 0.1 to 1.2 wt%. This study demonstrates the problems in carbon quantitative analysis using the existing calibration curve derived from pure iron (0.008 wt%C) and graphite (99.98 wt%C) as standard specimens. In order to derive an improved calibration curve, carbon homogenization treatment was performed to produce a uniform Kα intensity in selected standard samples (AISI 8620, AISI 4140, AISI 1065, AISI 52100 steel). The trend of detection intensity was identified according to the analysis condition, such as accelerating voltage (10, 15, 30 keV), and beam current (20, 50 nA). The appropriate analysis conditions (15 keV, 20 nA) were derived. When the carbon concentration depth profile of the carburized specimen was measured for a short carburizing time using the improved calibration curve, it proved to be a more reliable and accurate analysis method compared to the conventional analysis method.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Korea Evolution Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) grant funded by the Korea Government (MOTIE) (No. 20019183, Development of 5 ton vacuum carburizing heat treatment technology to improve the quality of large breaker cylinder parts advance into the global market).

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