EUROPEAN STEEL TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATION DAYS 2017 - ESTAD 2017

This paper presents the work carried out by CRM Group in view to measure on-line the cleanliness of steel strip at the exit of the cleaning section of galvanizing lines. The applied method is based on the LIBS principle (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) and allows a simultaneous measurement of the iron fines and of the carbon pollution. A short comparison with existing measuring systems is given and the advantages of this new technique are highlighted. The paper also describes the methodology used and the improvements made in order achieve an accurate determination of the low pollution levels expected after the cleaning section. Finally, some results are presented on samples processed in different conditions on the CRM Group pilot line. The sensitivity and precision of the method are also quantified and the potential applications in galvanizing lines are explained as well.