L'analyse des surfaces métalliques par spectrométrie d'émission à décharge luminescente

For several years, glow discharge spectrometry has been used at IRSID to characterize the surface layer composition of steel products, in particular, steel sheets. We recall in this communication the basic principle of the Grimm emission source and we discuss the influence of different parameters on the depth resolution of this technique.Some examples are then presented: Control of the surface cleanliness of pure iron (polished sample), study of passivation films formed on a ferritic stainless steel, and depth distribution of carbon on a mild steel sheet. These examples, taken among many others, show the usefulness of this technique for analysing films of varying thickness in the nanometer to micrometer range covering most of the elements which are important for steelmaking.