Study on magnetic property and fracture behavior of magnetic materials

Establishment of evaluation methods of material degradation before crack initiation is needed very much to enhance the reliability of structural components. We remark magnetic methods in this report. Our objectives are to reveal the relation between degradation and magnetic property and to develop evaluation methods of material degradation, especially plastic deformation and stress corrosion cracking (SCC). In the former part of this report, evaluation methods for plastic deformation are discussed. At first, the study that shows the relation between the magnetic flux leakage and plastic deformation is reviewed. We developed the inverse analysis method of magnetization to specify the degradation distribution. Moreover, we propose inverse analysis of magnetic susceptibility for quantitative evaluation. In the latter part, the topic is SCC. We measured the magnetic flux leakage from the sample induced a SCC crack (Inconel 600). Inconel 600 is a paramagnetic material at room temperature but the sample shows ferromagnetic and the magnetic flux leakage was changed near the SCC crack. The possibility of detection of a SCC crack is shown by the inverse analysis result from the magnetic flux leakage. Finally, it is recognized by observation of the micro magnetic distributions by using a magnetic force microscope that the magnetization has relation with chromium depletion near grain boundaries and it is weak near the SCC crack. From these results, the magnetic method is very effective for evaluation of degradation. (author)