Nondestructive evaluation of low carbon steel by magnetic adaptive testing

Three series of low carbon steel samples, plastically deformed by cold rolling to five consecutive stages of deformation, were investigated by the method of magnetic adaptive testing (MAT), typical by its low required magnetisation of samples. Samples in one series were magnetically closed; those in the other two series were magnetically open. Results of the nondestructive magnetic tests were compared with the results of destructive mechanical measurements of Vickers hardness and ductile–brittle transition temperature. Linear, sensitive correlation with low scatter of values was found between the magnetic and the two mechanical parameters for any shape of the investigated specimens. Based on these results, MAT is suggested as a highly promising nondestructive alternative of destructive Charpy impact tests for monitoring the irradiation embrittlement of surveillance samples in pressure vessels of nuclear reactors.