Detection of spring steel surface decarburization by magnetic hysteresis measurements

Surface decarburization of steel was non-destructively and quantitatively investigated by magnetic hysteresis. Flat samples were prepared from spring steel 54SiCr6 and decarburized layers of different thickness were produced on their surfaces by annealing at 800 °C in air for 1, 4, 8 and 20 h. Three types of treatment were applied on different samples in order to remove the simultaneously appearing surface oxides. The decarburized layers were examined magnetically by hysteresis loops measurements and the results were related to their optically determined depths. The magnetic measurements showed high sensitivity with respect to free ferrite and mixed ferrite/pearlite layers detection even without removal of the oxide layer. The free ferrite layers were easily and quantitatively detected by minor loops measurements with low field amplitude.