SURFACE-ANALYSIS OF STEEL SHEETS WITH GDOS AND EPMA

In the field of steel sheet characterization, chemical surface analysis plays a very important role. Surface composition effects the surface properties of the final product. At Voest-Alpine Stahl Linz the analysis techniques GDOS and EPMA are routinely used to characterize the steel sheet surface. Some fundamental experiments are here described for the optimization of GDOS depth resolution. In the documentation for a semiquantitative approach for steel sheet analysis, investigations and experience about minimum detection limits are presented. Self developed methods for concentration mapping and thickness mapping are described in the field of electron probe microanalysis; Also an EPMA depth profiling method is highlighted. Finally practical examples demonstrate the wide application range of the analysis methods.