Monitoring microstructure changes in rod online by using induction spectroscopy

This paper describes the application of a new multifrequency sensor system to an industrial rod mill. The system operates by analysing the response of the rod to an excitation signal which contains a range of frequencies. The sensor system is able to successfully monitor the transformation of the material. Sensor configurations that could be deployed online have been considered and a prototype system has been built and tested in the Stelmor section of the Scunthorpe Rod Mill fitted in the enhanced cooling zone. Initial results are shown, demonstrating that the phase spectra is essentially unaffected by variations in lift-off and the lay pattern of the rod on the run-out table. The system was also able to detect different phase spectra from different grades of steel and also to detect features of the process which are known to affect microstructure. © 2010 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.