LASER RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY - A TECHNIQUE FOR RAPID CHARACTERIZATION OF OXIDE SCALE LAYERS

A laser Raman microscope was used To collect spectra from individual p hase regions visible in a polished doss-section of a thick oxide scale grown on a steel at high temperature. The technique was shown to be c apable of unambiguously distinguishing the three iron oxides, FeO, Fe3 O4, and Fe2O3. The standard spectra were then used to analyse the phas es within thin (<10 mu m) millscales developed on the steel during the hot rolling stage of steel strip production. Poor quality surface app earance was demonstrated to be associated with the development of frag mentary Fe2O3 regions. (C) 1998 The Institute of Materials.