ON-LINE CHARACTERIZATION OF TEXTURE OF THIN STEEL SHEETS USING ULTRASOUND

Abstract The in-process evaluation of texture of thin steel sheets using non destructive methods would considerably improve the process control during manufacture, and the monitoring of product quality. This type of method can be used to control the homogeneity of steel coils and to detect any changes which can occur in the product characteristics during production. At the present time, the crystallographic texture is used as an important parameter to control good recrystallization and to ensure that the final characteristics of the product make it suitable for drawing. This paper is devoted to the presentation of a prototype device developed in order to demonstrate the applicability of this method to an industrial site of production of thin steel sheets. The ultrasonic velocities measurements were performed “on-line” under real production conditions. The results show that the technical solutions chosen were valid to perform these measurements. Significant variations in ultrasonic velocities coefficients were detected along a coil.