Application of High-Speed Laser Polarimetry to Noncontact Detection of Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys at High Temperatures

A high-speed laser polarimetry technique, developed recently for the measurement of normal spectral emissivity of materials at high temperatures, was used to detect solid-solid and solid-liquid phase transformations in metals and alloys in millisecond-resolution pulse-heating experiments. Experiments were performed where normal spectral emissivity at 633 nm was measured simultaneously with surface radiance temperature, resistance, and/or voltage drop across the specimen. It was observed that a phase transformation, as indicated either by an arrest in the specimen radiance temperature or changes in the resistance and/or voltage drop, generally caused a change in normal spectral emissivity. Experiments were conducted on cobalt, iron, hafnium, titanium, and zirconium to detect solid-solid phase transformations. Similar experiments were also performed on niobium, titanium, and the alloy 85titanium-15molybdenum (mass%) to detect solid-liquid phase transformations (melting).