Measurement Potential of the Barkhausen Effect for Obtaining Additional Information on the Component Condition in Manufacturing

Abstract The measurement of Barkhausen noise is one of the non-destructive testing methods which allows the use within the production line and within the cycle time at a high production volume. The aim of the present study was to answer the question, whether it is possible to extract the informations that the Barkhausen noise includes, concerning work-piece conditions, from the signal characteristic and more important assigning these findings. Therefore, soft machined and heat treated shaft components made of the ferromagnetic material Cf53 (1.1213) were analyzed to find characteristics in the Signal that allow to separate clearly an increase in temperature of the tested area from a change in the microstructure. For this purpose the shafts were analyzed at higher temperatures (up to 80 °C) and after an additional annealing process (to change the microstructure specifically). Both investigated situations (higher temperature and modified microstructure) showed different characteristic in the Barkhausen signal, thus an assigning is possible. Metallographic investigation and hardness measurements has been carried out to support the results.