In-process characterization of surface topography changes during nitration

Andreas Ciossek; Peter Lehmann; Stefan Patzelt; Gert Goch

doi:10.1117/12.401658

Translator Disclaimer

26 September 2000 In-process characterization of surface topography changes during nitration

Andreas Ciossek; Peter Lehmann; Stefan Patzelt; Gert Goch

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4100, Scattering and Surface Roughness III; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.401658
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2000, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The nitration process influences the mechanical and chemical properties of steel and changes the near-surface characteristics. The nitrided surfaces are less sensitive to corrosive fluids and show a better stability against abrasion. Unfortunately, during treatment pores emerge at the surface. In general this is not desired, since the pores reduce the wear stability. The change of the near-surface characteristics also leads to a remodeling of the surface topography. For example, ground, smooth surfaces show an increased but isotropic roughness after nitration. During the recent years, various speckle techniques for an in-process characterization of surface topography have been improved significantly. One of these promising techniques is the method of trichromatic speckle autocorrelation. Its measuring principle is based on trichromatic light scattering and enables to determine an integral parameter of the surface roughness by the evaluation of the speckle elongation. Especially in the case of nitration, where the specimen is located in a stove filled with ammonia at a temperature of 580 degrees Celsius, this technique offers an in-processing monitoring of surface topography changes from outside the stove. In this paper, the in-process characterization of surface topography by speckle autocorrelation will be introduced. In this context an algorithm has been developed, which allows to estimate the position of the optical axis within the speckle pattern and therefore to determine the surface roughness as well as the local inclination of isotropic surfaces. An important goal of the current research is to realize a reliable process control based on the speckle autocorrelation, that is necessary to produce nitrided surfaces without pores in the compound layer and with good abrasive and corrosive resistance.

Citation Download Citation

Andreas Ciossek, Peter Lehmann, Stefan Patzelt, and Gert Goch "In-process characterization of surface topography changes during nitration", Proc. SPIE 4100, Scattering and Surface Roughness III, (26 September 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.401658

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE