In depth profiling and surface analysis of treated surfaces and steel rods and tubes by glow discharge emission spectrometry (GD-AES)

The GD-AES in-depth profiling method is applied for a steel wire, 1 mm in diameter, coated with Galfan (an Al/Zn alloy), a galvanized wire, 6.5 mm in diameter, and a phosphated wire, 14 mm in diameter. The strong penetration of the coating into the substrate because of chemical reactions on the substrate surface is noted. Other applications of GD-AES method for in-depth profiling of layers varying from 5 nm to 150 microns are reported. These include coated plates, treated steels, wear resistant alloys and coloured steels. Results have been shown for the depth profile of hydrogen in chemical or electrochemical coatings and the analysis of thick layers. In addition new sample holders, anodes and cooling devices have been described for in-depth profiling and surface analysis of irregular samples such as rods and tubes. (author)