The Nondestructive Estimation of Mechanical Properties of a Carbon Steel by X-ray Diffraction Peak Broadening

Abstract

Abstract Carbon steel is largely used in automotive sheet works by deep drawing. The nondestructive determination of the superficial mechanical properties is searched for qualification of the fabrication processes and for service duration estimation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique is nondestructive and can be used to determine microscopic internal stresses by broadening of the XRD peaks. The average magnitude of XRD peak broadening is related directly to the hardness, the elastic limit, or degree of cold work of the material. So it can be used as a means of quantifying the surface mechanical properties. With an empirical relationship between the XRD peak broadening and the conventional mechanical properties (hardness, elastic limit, and plastic deformation) for carbon steel, the superficial mechanical characteristics can be estimated from diffraction peak broadening for finished stages of the manufacture cycle or for maintenance pieces.