Real-time carbon sensor for measuring concentration profiles in carburized steel

摘要

An alloy solute sensor probe, measurement system and measurement method are disclosed for directly measuring solute concentration profiles in conductive material components at elevated processing temperatures. The disclosed device and method permit direct, real-time non-destructive measurement of solute concentration profiles in treated surfaces in alloy components. In disclosed embodiments, a novel concentric carbon sensor and rod-shaped carbon sensor are disclosed which employ AC frequencies for probing the subsurface region of alloy samples to determine carbon concentration profiles at steel surfaces from measurements of alloy resistivity profiles. Results of carbon profile measurements obtained with the disclosed device and method compare favorably with conventional destructive analytical measurements made on post-processed samples. The sensor probe and method may be utilized to determine solute concentration profiles with a variety of solute materials and alloy compositions and may be advantageously employed in alloy surface processing, carburization heat treatments, induction heating and fatigue fracture applications.