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Steel sheet today ranks among the highly developed products of Europe's steel industry. Given the increasing consumption and expanding range of applications of the coated steel sheet materials, it is becoming more and more important to know the surface properties. This applies both to the surface of uncoated steel sheet and to that of the metallic zinc and zinc alloy coatings. Current objectives of the steel makers are, in particular, knowledge of the chemical composition of the surface throughout the route of production, as well as targeted production control to achieve a defined composition. A producer or end user correlates the surface composition with technological, processing and service properties, and is hence interested in compiling and complying with defined supply specifications. Against this background, the modern analysis techniques used for the chemical characterisation of steel sheet surfaces take on a key function for product development and quality control. Currently, a multitude of possible analysis techniques like EPMA, GDOES, SNMS, AES and ESCA are available for the chemical characterisation of surfaces. Within the framework of a European research project (ECSC -European coal and steel community), the suitability of such modern analysis techniques for the needs of the steel sheet producers, customers and users has been studied and adapted to the requirements involved. The following article -divided into four parts-will give a report about some analytical applications and the actual state of the art regarding microarea and surface analysis of steel sheet surfaces.

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