# US 10,481,052 B2 · Quality control process to assess the aluminized coating characteristics of hot stamped parts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,052 B2 - Document ID: US10481052B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/937,917 - Filed: 2018-03-28 - Published: 2019-10-03 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-28 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Constantin Chiriac; Raj Sohmshetty; Elizabeth Bullard; James Engle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481052B2 ## CPC - G01N 1/2813: {Producing thin layers of samples on a substrate, e.g. smearing, spinning-on (G01N1/30 takes precedence)} - G01N 21/67: using electric arcs or discharges - B21D 22/022: {by heating the blank or stamping associated with heat treatment (C21D takes precedence)} - B21D 22/201: {Work-pieces; preparation of the work-pieces, e.g. lubricating, coating} - G01J 3/443: Emission spectrometry - G01N 1/36: Embedding or analogous mounting of samples - G01N 3/28: Investigating ductility, e.g. suitability of sheet metal for deep-drawing or spinning - G01N 3/40: Investigating hardness or rebound hardness - G01N 21/8422: {Investigating thin films, e.g. matrix isolation method} - G01N 33/2028: Metallic constituents - G01N 2013/003: {Diffusion; diffusivity between liquids} - G01N 2021/8427: {Coatings} - G01N 2203/0076: Hardness, compressibility or resistance to crushing - G01N 2223/61: thin films, coatings - G01N 2223/633: thickness, density, surface weight (unit area) - G01N 2291/0234: Metals, e.g. steel - G01N 2291/02854: Length, thickness - G01N 2560/00: Chemical aspects of mass spectrometric analysis of biological material - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) ## Abstract A method of inspecting and determining characteristics of an aluminized coating of a hot stamped part is provided. The method includes removing a sample from the hot stamped part for Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES), analyzing the sample using GDOES, and plotting constituent element weight percentages versus depth on a graph. The method further includes determining points on the graph where constituent elements intersect and where the points of intersection indicate the characteristics of the aluminized coating. The characteristics of the method include, by way of example, a total thickness of the aluminized coating, a thickness of an inter-diffusion layer (IDL), constituents of the aluminized coating, constituents of the hot stamped part, phase composition of the aluminized coating, surface oxidation, and weldability. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of inspecting and determining characteristics of an aluminized coating of a hot stamped part comprising: removing a sample from the hot stamped part for Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES); analyzing the sample using GDOES and plotting constituent element weight percentages versus depth on a graph; and determining points on the graph where constituent elements intersect, wherein the points of intersection indicate the characteristics of the aluminized coating. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristics are selected from the group consisting of a total thickness of the aluminized coating, a thickness of an inter-diffusion layer (IDL), constituents of the aluminized coating, constituents of the hot stamped part, phase composition of the aluminized coating, surface oxidation, and weldability. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the hot stamped part is coated with a eutectic AlSi10Fe3 alloy, and an intersection between Aluminum and Carbon indicates the total thickness of the aluminized coating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the hot stamped part is coated with a eutectic AlSi10Fe3 alloy, and a difference between an intersection of Aluminum and Carbon and a second maximum Silicon wt. % indicates the thickness of the IDL. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample size is approximately 5 mm in diameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the sample does not undergo any preparation prior to being analyzed by GDOES. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the preparation includes mounting, grinding, and polishing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising determining whether contamination is present by a comparison of constituent elements to a composition of the hot stamped part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of providing the characteristics to a subsequent manufacturing operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the subsequent manufacturing operation is selected from the group consisting of an annealing operation, a shot-blasting operation, and a welding operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the characteristics are provided to a controller of the annealing furnace, wherein the controller adjusts a temperature and processing time of the hot stamped part in the annealing furnace based on at least one characteristic. ### Claim 12 A method of inspecting and determining a total thickness of an aluminized coating and a thickness of an inter-diffusion layer (IDL) of a hot stamped boron steel part comprising: preparing a sample from the hot stamped part for Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES); analyzing the sample using GDOES and plotting constituent element weight percentages versus depth on a graph; and determining points on the graph where constituent elements intersect, wherein an intersection between Aluminum and Carbon indicates the total thickness of the aluminized coating, and a difference between an intersection of Aluminum and Carbon and a second maximum Silicon wt. % indicates the thickness of the IDL. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 further comprising determining whether contamination is present by a comparison of constituent elements to a composition of the hot stamped part. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of providing the total thickness of the aluminized coating and the thickness of the IDL to a controller of an annealing furnace, wherein the controller adjusts a temperature and processing time of the hot stamped part in the annealing furnace based on at least one of the total thickness of the aluminized coating and the thickness of the IDL. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of providing the total thickness of the aluminized coating and the thickness of the IDL to a subsequent welding operation, wherein welding parameters are adjusted based on at least one of the total thickness of the aluminized coating and the thickness of the IDL. ### Claim 16 A method of controlling a manufacturing operation for hot stamped parts comprising: removing a sample from a hot stamped part for Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES); analyzing the sample using GDOES and plotting constituent element weight percentages versus depth on a graph; determining points on the graph where constituent elements intersect, wherein the points indicate the characteristics of the aluminized coating; and providing the characteristics to a controller of the manufacturing operation, wherein the controller parameters of the manufacturing operation are based on at least one characteristic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the characteristics are selected from the group consisting of a total thickness of the aluminized coating, a thickness of an inter-diffusion layer (IDL), constituents of the aluminized coating, constituents of the hot stamped part, phase composition of the aluminized coating, surface oxidation, and weldability. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the manufacturing operation is selected from the group consisting of an annealing operation, a shot-blasting operation, and a welding operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the hot stamped part is coated with a eutectic AlSi10Fe3 alloy, and an intersection between Aluminum and Carbon indicates the total thickness of the aluminized coating. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the hot stamped part is coated with a eutectic AlSi10Fe3 alloy, and a difference between an intersection of Aluminum and Carbon and a second maximum Silicon wt. % indicates the thickness of the IDL.