Non-destructive method of characterizing nitrided layers in the 42CrMo4 steel using the amplitude-frequency technique of eddy currents

The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of using the eddy current method, a technique for measuring voltage amplitude and resonant frequency, for non-destructive assessment of the thickness of the near-surface layer of iron nitrides in 42CrMo4 steel after gas nitriding. The scope of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kondej Adam, Kukla Dominik, Wach Piotr, Zagórski Andrzej
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2025-04-01
Series:Open Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/eng-2025-0106
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850183952690577408
author Kondej Adam
Kukla Dominik
Wach Piotr
Zagórski Andrzej
author_facet Kondej Adam
Kukla Dominik
Wach Piotr
Zagórski Andrzej
author_sort Kondej Adam
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of using the eddy current method, a technique for measuring voltage amplitude and resonant frequency, for non-destructive assessment of the thickness of the near-surface layer of iron nitrides in 42CrMo4 steel after gas nitriding. The scope of the work included preparation of test samples, chemical composition tests, surface roughness measurements, hardness distribution using the Vicker’s method and measurements of the thickness of nitrided layer on cross-sections, X-ray phase composition analysis, testing of nitrided layer using the eddy current method, analysis of the correlation of the results of destructive and non-destructive tests. The main research apparatus was the Wirotest M2 with the 25 kHz measuring head. Differences in electromagnetic parameters between the white layer and the rest of the nitrided material, as well as changes in the surface roughness of the layer, are factors influencing the eddy current signal, which allows indirect measurement of its thickness. The analysis of the voltage amplitude is more accurate, than the resonant frequency, in assessing the thickness of nitrides layer. With the increase in thickness of the nitrides layer, the voltage value of the signal of eddy currents increases. The research results also indicate the possibility of using the same measuring head to assess the roughness parameter Ra of the nitrided layer. The Wirotest M2 can be used in quality control of steel parts after nitriding.
format Article
id doaj-art-ea622a51da274c72aaa69b4be901e6cc
institution OA Journals
issn 2391-5439
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher De Gruyter
record_format Article
series Open Engineering
spelling doaj-art-ea622a51da274c72aaa69b4be901e6cc2025-08-20T02:17:10ZengDe GruyterOpen Engineering2391-54392025-04-01151012059610.1515/eng-2025-0106Non-destructive method of characterizing nitrided layers in the 42CrMo4 steel using the amplitude-frequency technique of eddy currentsKondej Adam0Kukla Dominik1Wach Piotr2Zagórski Andrzej3Łukasiewicz Research Network – Warsaw Institute of Technology (Łukasiewicz – WIT), Warsaw, PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network – Warsaw Institute of Technology (Łukasiewicz – WIT), Warsaw, PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network – Warsaw Institute of Technology (Łukasiewicz – WIT), Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, PolandThe aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of using the eddy current method, a technique for measuring voltage amplitude and resonant frequency, for non-destructive assessment of the thickness of the near-surface layer of iron nitrides in 42CrMo4 steel after gas nitriding. The scope of the work included preparation of test samples, chemical composition tests, surface roughness measurements, hardness distribution using the Vicker’s method and measurements of the thickness of nitrided layer on cross-sections, X-ray phase composition analysis, testing of nitrided layer using the eddy current method, analysis of the correlation of the results of destructive and non-destructive tests. The main research apparatus was the Wirotest M2 with the 25 kHz measuring head. Differences in electromagnetic parameters between the white layer and the rest of the nitrided material, as well as changes in the surface roughness of the layer, are factors influencing the eddy current signal, which allows indirect measurement of its thickness. The analysis of the voltage amplitude is more accurate, than the resonant frequency, in assessing the thickness of nitrides layer. With the increase in thickness of the nitrides layer, the voltage value of the signal of eddy currents increases. The research results also indicate the possibility of using the same measuring head to assess the roughness parameter Ra of the nitrided layer. The Wirotest M2 can be used in quality control of steel parts after nitriding.https://doi.org/10.1515/eng-2025-0106non-destructive testingeddy currentsgas nitridingnitrides zonethickness measurementvoltage amplitude
spellingShingle Kondej Adam
Kukla Dominik
Wach Piotr
Zagórski Andrzej
Non-destructive method of characterizing nitrided layers in the 42CrMo4 steel using the amplitude-frequency technique of eddy currents
Open Engineering
non-destructive testing
eddy currents
gas nitriding
nitrides zone
thickness measurement
voltage amplitude
title Non-destructive method of characterizing nitrided layers in the 42CrMo4 steel using the amplitude-frequency technique of eddy currents
title_full Non-destructive method of characterizing nitrided layers in the 42CrMo4 steel using the amplitude-frequency technique of eddy currents
title_fullStr Non-destructive method of characterizing nitrided layers in the 42CrMo4 steel using the amplitude-frequency technique of eddy currents
title_full_unstemmed Non-destructive method of characterizing nitrided layers in the 42CrMo4 steel using the amplitude-frequency technique of eddy currents
title_short Non-destructive method of characterizing nitrided layers in the 42CrMo4 steel using the amplitude-frequency technique of eddy currents
title_sort non destructive method of characterizing nitrided layers in the 42crmo4 steel using the amplitude frequency technique of eddy currents
topic non-destructive testing
eddy currents
gas nitriding
nitrides zone
thickness measurement
voltage amplitude
url https://doi.org/10.1515/eng-2025-0106
work_keys_str_mv AT kondejadam nondestructivemethodofcharacterizingnitridedlayersinthe42crmo4steelusingtheamplitudefrequencytechniqueofeddycurrents
AT kukladominik nondestructivemethodofcharacterizingnitridedlayersinthe42crmo4steelusingtheamplitudefrequencytechniqueofeddycurrents
AT wachpiotr nondestructivemethodofcharacterizingnitridedlayersinthe42crmo4steelusingtheamplitudefrequencytechniqueofeddycurrents
AT zagorskiandrzej nondestructivemethodofcharacterizingnitridedlayersinthe42crmo4steelusingtheamplitudefrequencytechniqueofeddycurrents