J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2019, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (3): 360-368.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2018.09.047

• Research Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Non-destructive microstructural analysis by electrical conductivity: Comparison with hardness measurements in different materials

Gonçalo L. Sorgera, J.P. Oliveirabc*(), Patrick L. Inácioc, Norbert Enzingerd, Pedro Vilaçaa, R.M. Mirandac, Telmo G. Santosc   

  1. aDepartment of Engineering Design and Production, School of Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 1420, FI-00076, Aalto, Finland
    bDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
    cUNIDEMI, Departamento de Engenharia Mecanica e Industrial, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal;
    dIMAT - Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming, TU Graz, Kopernikusgasse 24, 8010, Graz, Austria
  • Received:2018-04-04 Revised:2018-05-26 Accepted:2018-07-04 Online:2019-03-15 Published:2019-01-18
  • Contact: Oliveira J.P.
  • About author:

    1 These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract:

The use of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques for assessing microstructural changes in processed materials is of particular importance as it can be used to assess, qualitatively, the integrity of any material/structure. Among the several NDE techniques available, electrical conductivity measurements using eddy currents attract great attention owing to its simplicity and reliability. In this work, the electrical conductivity profiles of friction stir processed Ti6Al4V, Cu, Pb, S355 steel and gas tungsten arc welded AISI 304 stainless steel were determined through eddy currents and four-point probe. In parallel, hardness measurements were also performed. The profiles matched well with the optical macrographs of the materials: while entering in the processed region a variation in both profiles was always observed. One particular advantage of electrical conductivity profiles over hardness was evident: it provides a better resolution of the microstructural alterations in the processed materials. Moreover, when thermomechanical processing induces microstructural changes that modify the magnetic properties of a material, eddy currents testing can be used to qualitatively determine the phase fraction in a given region of the material. A qualitative relation between electrical conductivity measurements and hardness is observed.

Key words: Non-destructive evaluation techniques, Electrical conductivity, Hardness, Friction stir processing, Gas tungsten arc welding