J Nondestruct Eval (2007) 26: 7987
DOI 10.1007/s10921-007-0022-0
Characterization of Dual-Phase Steels Using Magnetic
Barkhausen Noise Technique
M. Kaplan C.H. Gr M. Erdogan
Published online: 11 October 2007
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007
Abstract The aim of this work is to nondestructively char-
acterize the dual phase steels using the Magnetic Barkhausen
Noise (MBN) method. By quenching of AISI 8620 steel
specimens having two different starting microstructures,
from various intercritical annealing temperatures (ICAT) in
the ferrite-austenite region, the microstructures consisting
of different volume fractions of martensite with morpho-
logical variations have been obtained. The microstructures
were first conventionally characterized by metallographical
investigations and hardness tests. Then, the MBN measure-
ments were performed using a SCAN commercial system.
Good correlations between the martensite volume fraction,
hardness and MBN emission have been obtained. MBN sig-
nal height clearly decreased as the ICAT, therefore the vol-
ume fraction of martensite increased. The effect of the initial
microstructure prior to intercritical annealing has also been
differentiated by the MBN measurements. It has been con-
cluded that MBN method can be used as a useful tool for
nondestructive characterization of dual phase steels.
Keywords Dual phase steel Microstructure Magnetic
Barkhausen noise
M. Kaplan C.H. Gr ()
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Middle
East Tech. University, 06531 Ankara, Turkey
e-mail: chgur@metu.edu.tr
M. Erdogan
Materials Division, Metallurgy Education Department, Faculty of
Technical Education, Gazi University, 06500 Ankara, Turkey
Introduction
Dual-phase steels (DPS) were introduced into the market as
new generation of high-strength low alloy steels in 1970s,
and are currently materials of commercial interest for the au-
tomotive industry. The dual phase microstructure consists of
a dispersion of 2025% hard martensite particles in a soft,
ductile ferrite matrix. The hard martensite laths/plates pro-
vide substantial strengthening while the ductile ferrite ma-
trix gives good formability. DPS can be modified by chang-
ing the martensite content via thermal or thermomechanical
processing to obtain higher strength or higher ductility.
DPS are conventionally produced by partial austenitiza-
tion of low carbon steels within the ferrite-austenite phase
region, followed by rapid cooling to transform the austen-
ite to martensite. In addition to martensite, the resulting mi-
crostructures may consist of epitaxial ferrite, pearlite, bai-
nite or retained austenite depending on cooling rates and in-
tercritical annealing temperatures used [1]. The amount of
austenite present during the intercritical annealing is con-
trolled by the annealing temperature, which also controls
the carbon content and hardenability of the austenite. The
critical cooling rates need to avoid pearlite and bainite, and
at which the required amount of austenite transforms to
martensite, are factors in the economic production of DPS
[2].
The effect of varying heat treatment temperature, alloy
content, and cooling rate on DPS has been studied by sev-
eral researchers. It has been found that an increase in ten-
sile strength of DPS could be obtained through an increase
in martensite volume fraction as well as by an increase in
the aspect ratio of martensite [3]. Effects of martensite vol-
ume fraction and the morphology of the phases have been
reported [4]. After examining tensile and impact properties
of high-martensite dual phase steels it has been concluded
80
that equal amount of finely dispersed martensite phases ex-
hibit the optimum combination of high strength and ductility
with high impact toughness [5]. Finer initial microstructure
produced a dual phase structure with more martensite than
the coarser one after annealing at low temperature and par-
ticular at the slower cooling rates [1]. It has been reported
that martensite content was significantly dependent on the
heat treatment condition or the initial microstructure of the
steel. There was a marginally higher amount of martensite
in the sample normalized prior to intercritical annealing as
compared to the annealed one. The wear behavior is also
dependent on these parameters [6]. A survey on DPS and
micromechanical modeling has been already published [7].
Manufacturing industry spends a great deal of effort
in determining and ensuring the desired microstructure of
steels. In practice, the microstructure is usually determined
by metallographic techniques and hardness test where cer-
tain regions of the representative samples are investigated
following the preparation stage. Since these methods are
time consuming and a hundred percent inspection is im-
possible, there is always an interest to develop nonde-
structive techniques capable of rapid evaluation. Magnetic
Barkhausen Noise (MBN) method has been considered as
an evaluation technique of considerable importance for mi-
crostructural and mechanical characterization of steels. The
advantages of this method over other methods are that it is
a nondestructive economical technique, and can be easily
used to evaluate samples of various shape and sizes and un-
der different external conditions.
Ferromagnetic materials consist of very small magnetic
regions called domains. Each domain is magnetized along a
certain crystallographic easy direction of magnetization, and
domains are separated from one another by domain walls.
The magnetization process is characterized by the hystere-
sis curve that is indeed made up of small steps represent-
ing the movement of the magnetic domains under the effect
of an external magnetic field. These discontinuous changes
are a result of the Barkhausen effect, i.e. small magnetiza-
tion jumps due to domain walls becoming pinned and re-
leased from microstructural obstacles such as grain bound-
aries, second phase particles, and inclusions. This results in
a change in magnetization within the material and will in-
duce an electrical pulse in a pick-up coil. Amplification of
these signals produces noise, which can be observed on an
oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer. The measurement depth
for MBN usually varies between 0.01 to 1.5 mm from the
surface depending on the frequency range of the Barkhausen
signals, conductivity and permeability of the material.
MBN emission is affected by the microstructural state
and residual stresses in the material. Usually, the envelope
of the signal is plotted as a function of the applied mag-
netic field. The envelope generally has a single-peak shape
and can be characterized by different parameters, such as
J Nondestruct Eval (2007) 26: 7987
the maximum noise amplitude and the corresponding mag-
netic field. Various studies have been published on the char-
acterization of steel microstructures using MBN technique.
It has been reported that the peak of MBN signal from low-
C steels decreases with grain size since the number of do-
mains and walls that can move is much bigger in the fine
grain structures [8]. MBN responses of fully pearlitic, fully
pearlitic, and ferritic-pearlitic steels have been differentiated
[9]. Measurements performed on plain carbon steels have
shown that the maximum MBN signal was detected in the
steel with a composition very close to the eutectoid compo-
sition. As the C-content increased the MBN signal increased
for hypo-eutectoid samples, but decreased for the hyper-
eutectoid samples [10]. Transformations between austenite
and martensite during cold work and annealing have been
also studied using MBN measurements [11]. The effect of
precipitation of Fe-carbides and Cr-Mo carbides at constant
temperature as a function of tempering time has been inves-
tigated on various steels, using micromagnetic parameters
[12]. Important changes in MBN response have been ob-
served in relation to martensite decomposition after temper-
ing of steels between 100o C and 600o C [13, 14]. Okazaki
et al. has studied detectability of stress-induced marten-
site phase in ferromagnetic shape memory alloy by MBN
method [15]. Effect of hardness and composition gradient
on Barkhausen emission in case hardened steels has been
reported [16]. Sensitivity of the MBN technique in compar-
ison to the sound velocity measurements for the characteri-
zation of steel microstructures, namely as-quenched marten-
site, tempered martensite, fine pearlite-ferrite, and coarse
pearlite-ferrite has been studied [17]. It has been reported
that MBN measurements could be successfully used for the
characterization of ferrite-martensite steels [18]. Magnetic
measurements have been effectively used for studying the
microstructural changes of duplex stainless steels, i.e., de-
composition of delta-ferrite [19].
The aim of the study is to contribute to the studies on
the non-destructive characterization of dual phase steels.
By quenching of AISI 8620 specimens having two dif-
ferent starting microstructures (ferrite-pearlite and fully
martensite), from various intercritical annealing tempera-
tures (732o C, 738o C, 758o C) in the ferrite-austenite region,
the microstructures consisting of different volume fractions
of martensite and morphology have been obtained; and then,
MBN measurement results were compared with the metal-
lographic investigations and hardness values.
Experimental Study
Material and Samples
Carbon content was the main concern in the selection
of the material. At low annealing temperatures the car-
bon content determines the amount of carbide formation
J Nondestruct Eval (2007) 26: 7987
(a)
Fig. 1 Initial microstructures of the AISI 8620 samples prior to intercritical annealing: a Q series (ferrite-pearlite), b QQ series (fully martensite)
which adversely effects the Barkhausen measurements. AISI
8620 steel (0.2%C, 0.81%Mn, 0.17%Si, 0.60%Cr, 0.56%Ni,
0.23%Mo) was used in the experimental studies. Samples of
13 mm diameter and 5 mm in thickness were cut from a
cold-rolled rod by a CNC machine.
Initial Microstructures and Heat Treatments
The preliminary investigation was to determine the limit
temperatures (A1 and A3 ) of the intercritical ferrite-austenite
region of AISI 8620, and dependence of martensite volume
fraction on intercritical annealing temperature. By using (1)
and (2) [20] A1 was approximated as 716C and A3 as
896C.
A1 = 723 20.7 Mn 6.9 Ni + 29.1 Si
+ 16.9 Cr + 290 As + 6.38 W,
A3 = 910 203 C 1/2
15.2 Ni + 44.7 Si
+ 104 V + 31.5 Mo + 13.1 W.
In order to show the feasibility of MBN measurements for
industrial dual phase steels, the intercritical annealing was
conducted with temperatures close to A1 . However, the steel
type and the heat treatment set-up did not allow produc-
ing the martensite volume fraction (MVF) that is lower than
25%. As a result of some preliminary studies, three intercrit-
ical temperatures of 732, 738, and 758o C were selected.
Martensitic morphology in ferritic matrix is determined
mainly by initial microstructure obtained prior to the in-
tercritical annealing. Two different dispersions of marten-
site were produced by applying two different treatments
prior to dual phase heat treatment (Fig. 1). Dual phase mi-
crostructures derived from the as-received initial microstruc-
ture (ferrite-pearlite) were labeled as series Q. In the other
81
(b)
group, the samples were austenitized at 900o C for 20 min
and oil quenched to obtain an initial microstructure of low
carbon, lath martensite; and these samples were labeled as
series QQ. Following these heat treatments, the samples
were heated at the intercritical temperatures chosen for 20
minutes allowing austenite to nucleate and grow. The sam-
ples were then oil quenched at ambient temperature to obtain
martensite in a ferrite matrix.
The Hereaus annealing furnace having an accuracy of
5C was used in the annealing process. K-type thermocou-
ples were spot-welded at the longitudinal center of the sam-
ple. Samples were then mounted on and fixed with wires to
the sample holder. Thermocouple wires were long enough
in order to keep the cold junction as far as possible from
the furnace. The effect of the heat differences on the sam-
ple was minimized by placing the sample perpendicular to
(1)
the horizontal mid-line of the furnace. During the annealing
process a pre-selected zone inside the furnace was used for
every sample. The temperature of the sample was checked
(2)
continuously on the temperature display and any alteration
in the annealing temperature was balanced and kept within
2 C by displacing the sample incrementally between the
high and low temperature zones.
Metallographic Inspections and Hardness Test
Heat treated samples were prepared for metallographic in-
spection with standard grinding and polishing techniques.
To eliminate effect of the decarburized layer formed during
heat treatment, about 0.5 mm layer was removed from the
surface of the sample by careful grinding.
All samples were etched using 2% Nital (%2 HNO3 +
%98 C2 H5 OH). After etching, martensite was observed as
light brown and ferrite as white in color during microscopic
82
inspection. To differentiate the ferrite-martensite interface
more clearly an additional etching with sodium meta bi-
sulphite (%3 Na2 S2 O5 + %97 H2 O) was applied. At the
final stage martensite was observed as dark brown. The
martensite volume fraction of each sample was determined
by point counting. MVF values were obtained from arith-
metical means of values derived from the 5 images of 500
magnification taken from different points on the samples.
Leica QM550MW imaging system was used for the opti-
cal metallography whereas Jeol JSM 6400 was used for the
scanning electron microscopy.
Hardness of the specimens (HRc) was measured by In-
stron Wolpert hardness tester using a 150 kg load. The hard-
ness values given are the average of at least five measure-
ments on each sample, with the total scatter being no more
than 2 HRC.
Magnetic Barkhausen Noise Measurement
Any residual magnetism that may influence MBN emis-
sion in the specimens was absent since all specimens were
heated at temperatures which are above the Curie temper-
ature. Barkhausen noise signal was measured with SCAN
500-2 (StressTech) equipment. Measurements were carried
out by using the sensor, S1-138-13-01. An excitation mag-
netic field with a frequency of 125 Hz was used. Magne-
tizing voltage, which adjusts the magnitude of magnetiz-
ing field applied to the specimen, was set to 10 V. Sam-
pling frequency, the parameter determining how many sam-
ples per second are stored for signal analysis was set as
2 MHz. Number of bursts, the parameter determining how
many magnetizing half cycles will be stored for signal analy-
sis, was set to the highest possible number of half cycles,
as 186. The detected Barkhausen emission signals were fil-
tered (pass-band: 0.1-1000 kHz) and amplified (voltage gain
of 20 dB).
The root mean square (RMS) value of the voltage signal
detected from the specimens is given as an output in SCAN
measurements. RMS voltage, which is obtained by averag-
ing the MBN signal over the time for magnetization reversal,
gives the average of the Barkhausen activity. The MBN sig-
nals were also plotted as a function of the magnetizing field
over a hysteresis cycle in order to produce the MBN finger-
print.
Results and Discussion
Samples having similar microstructural properties to those
of industrial dual phase steels were tried to be produced
from AISI 8620 steel. In order to minimize uncertainty in the
measurements, all samples were cut from the same rod. The
optical micrographs in Fig. 2 demonstrate that the amount
J Nondestruct Eval (2007) 26: 7987
of austenite which transforms to martensite during quench-
ing increases with increasing intercritical annealing tem-
perature. Besides, the morphology and the amount of the
martensite formed show differences in the Q and QQ series
samples that were treated at the same ICAT. For the samples
having ferritic-pearlitic initial structure (Q series), needle-
like martensite phase (dark gray regions) exists in the ferrite
matrix while the ferrite grains seem unchanged since they
did not experience any structural change during intercriti-
cal annealing. However, in the case of the samples of QQ
series having martensitic initial structure, the whole struc-
ture transforms to ferrite and austenite during the intercrit-
ical annealing. Then, quenching from the austenite-ferrite
region, parallel narrow laths within prior austenite grains
causes finer dispersion of acicular martensite in a ferrite ma-
trix, and gives rise to a high density of fresh dislocations in
the ferrite grains due to the accommodation strains caused
by the martensitic transformation.
Figures 3 and 4 shows the martensite volume fraction and
hardness values of the dual-phase steel samples that were
obtained by considering two different initial microstructures
and applying three different intercritical annealing temper-
atures. It is clearly seen that the initial microstructure prior
to intercritical annealing significantly affect the MVF, and
therefore hardness of the DPS. For both series it was ob-
served that the higher the ICAT the higher MVF in the dual-
phase steel. For a given ICAT, martensitic initial microstruc-
ture (QQ series) always resulted in higher hardness and
MVF with a finer martensite morphology compared to the
ferritic-pearlitic one (Q series). These results are in agree-
ment with those of the previous study which has reported
that increasing the ICAT increases the austenite volume frac-
tion, but also decreases its carbon content and so reduces its
hardenability; and a finer starting microstructure produces
more martensite than the coarser one [1]. The ferrite growth
rate is dependent upon the degree of under cooling, carbon
diffusion rate and carbon concentration in the austenite at
the austenite-ferrite interface. Small austenite regions must
become enriched in carbon more rapidly than large particles,
with respect to amount of ferrite growth. The average ferrite
growth rate will be considerably slower for fine dispersions
than coarse ones when the cooling rate is not a variable.
Therefore, less ferrite and more martensite will form and this
difference will increase with increasing austenite dispersion.
On the other hand, the size and distribution of the marten-
site obtained on quenching reflects the scale of the initial
microstructure. During intercritical annealing of the QQ se-
ries more austenite nucleated at lath interfaces, lath colony
boundaries and prior austenite grain boundaries. Therefore,
martensite regions formed upon quenching are smaller and
has a finer morphology. The results are also in agreement
with those of the previous works [35, 21].
J Nondestruct Eval (2007) 26: 7987 83

(a) Q732 (b) QQ732

(c) Q738 (d) QQ738

(e) Q758 (f) QQ758

Fig. 2 Optical micrographs of the AISI 8620 dual-phase steel samples
 84 J Nondestruct Eval (2007) 26: 7987

!       It is known that magnetic parameters derived from
 Barkhausen emission signals that are dependent upon do-
 main wall movement and domain nucleation, are strongly
affected by the changes in the microstructure since the di-

mensions of the magnetic domains and the domain walls
 are comparable with those of phases, grains, precipitates,
 etc. Figure 5 shows the correlation between RMS value of

MBN signal and MVF, whereas Fig. 6 gives the correla-
tion between RMS value of MBN signal and hardness of
      the dual-phase steel samples. As the MVF of the specimen,
   and consequently hardness increases, the MBN peak height
decreases proportionally.
Fig. 3 Martensite volume fraction of the AISI 8620 dual-phase steel
samples
In ferrite, the growth of domains is easy since few weak
obstacles impede domain wall motions inside ferrite grains.
 Therefore, pure ferritic samples would show very high MBN
emission. In the case of ferrite-martensite combination, the

MBN emission will be affected from the magnetic properties
 of both phases. Due to the small size of martensite needles,
 

 the domain wall energy plays an important role, so the rela-


tive volume occupied by a wall is larger than in the other
phases of steel. Under the effect of an external magnetic

field, the resistance to the growing domains in martensite
 phase is very high since domain walls are pinned due to high
dislocation density. Domain wall displacements are low and
     
domain walls are difficult to create since the reversal of mag-

  
netization requires a strong field. Hence, the MBN emission
Fig. 4 Hardness (HRc) values of the AISI 8620 dual-phase steel sam- caused by martensite is very weak. Micro residual stresses in
ples the martensite needles, which are inherent to the diffusion-
less austenite-martensite transformation, may also influence
the MBN emission to some extent.

Fig. 5 Correlation between

RMS value of Barkhausen
emission and martensite volume
fraction (MVF) of the AISI
8620 dual-phase steel samples
J Nondestruct Eval (2007) 26: 7987
Fig. 6 Correlation between
RMS value of Barkhausen
emission and hardness (HRc) of
the AISI 8620 dual-phase steel
samples
Another measurement parameter used for evaluation is
the MBN fingerprint, on which the peak position indicates
the magnetic field at which the peak value of the MBN signal
is located. The fact that ferrite and pearlite microstructures
have a strong Barkhausen activity located at a low magnetic
field, whereas a martensite microstructure, which is classi-
fied as hard magnetic, has a low Barkhausen emission lo-
cated at a high field has been widely accepted in the litera-
ture [1214, 17]. Concerning DPS, it can be expected that
the MBN fingerprint exhibits both characteristics of ferrite
and martensite. Thus, a low amplitude peak being far away
from zero can be considered as an evidence for the increase
in martensite content. However, the overall response cannot
be estimated simply from the individual responses of ferrite
and martensite due to the differences in their carbon content
and the correlation phenomena between the single phase and
dual phase steels. It is also known that MBN measurement
of martensite is directly linked to its carbon content; i.e., as
the carbon content of martensite increases the peak height
of MBN signal decreases, and the signal shifts to the higher
magnetic excitation fields. The relative RMS voltage as a
function of relative magnetic excitation graphs for the sam-
ples in Q-series and QQ-series are given in Fig. 7a and b.
As the MVF increased, a remarkable reduction in the peak
height of the MBN signal, and, a slight shift in the peak posi-
tion towards higher magnetic excitation field were observed.
The results showed that the ferrite peak is dominant, and the
changes in the amount of martensite can be determined from
the corresponding changes in the MBN peak height.
In Fig. 7 it is also seen that the RMS voltage decreases
prominently for QQ series, having fully martensitic initial
85
structure, compared with Q series intercritically annealed at
the same temperature. Also, the MBN peak positions of the
QQ series move to a higher relative magnetic excitation as
the result of higher MVF and finer martensite morphology.
In the case of the samples of QQ series, the whole structure
transforms to ferrite and austenite during the intercritical an-
nealing. Then, quenching from the austenite-ferrite region,
narrow laths within prior austenite grains causes finer dis-
persion of acicular martensite in a ferrite matrix, and gives
rise to a high density of fresh dislocations in the ferrite
grains. This results in an additional difficulty to the nucle-
ation and movement of domains, and therefore, lower MBN
emissions located at relatively higher magnetic excitation
fields.
Conclusions
By quenching of AISI 8620 specimens having two dif-
ferent starting microstructures (ferrite-pearlite and fully
martensite), from various intercritical annealing temper-
atures (ICAT) namely 732o C, 738o C, and 758o C in the
ferrite-austenite region, the dual-phase steels consisting
of different volume fractions of martensite and morphol-
ogy have been obtained. The microstructures and hardness
values were determined by conventional destructive tech-
niques. The measurements of the Magnetic Barkhausen
Noise (MBN) were performed by using SCAN sensor con-
nectors. After evaluating and comparing the results, the fol-
lowing conclusions can be drawn:
86 J Nondestruct Eval (2007) 26: 7987
Fig. 7 MBN profile of the AISI
8620 dual-phase steel samples
(relative RMS voltage as a
function of relative magnetic
excitation): a Q-series,
b QQ-series

(a)

(b)

The martensite and ferrite contents of the dual phase
steels are dependent on the ICAT chosen. The higher the
intercritical temperature the higher the amount of marten-
site.
Variations at the MBN peak height can be used for non-
destructive determination of the martensite/ferrite con-
tent in dual phase steels. A good correlation between
the martensite volume fraction, hardness and MBN peak
height has been obtained. As the ICAT, therefore the vol-
ume fraction of martensite increases, MBN peak height of
ferrite clearly decreases. Since ferrite signal peak is dom-
inant, the shift in the peak position is less sensitive to the
variations in the martensite content.
The initial microstructure affects the morphology and the
amount of the martensite formed in dual phase steels.
Martensitic initial microstructure results in higher amount
J Nondestruct Eval (2007) 26: 7987
of martensite that is finely distributed in the ferrite matrix
causing higher amount of dislocations, compared to those
of the ferritic-pearlitic one. Both the height and position
of the MBN signal seems to be sensitive to such varia-
tions in the microstructure of the dual-phase steels. The
finer martensite and higher dislocation density in ferrite
grains result in an additional difficulty to the nucleation
and movement of domains, and therefore, lower MBN
emissions located at higher magnetic excitation fields.
Acknowledgements Authors are thankful to Dr. Ibrahim Cam
(METU-Central Laboratory) for the MBN measurements, to Mr.
Volkan Kilicli for the heat treatments; and to Mr. Kemal Davut for
the metallographic analysis.
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