Depth profiling of rolled aluminium alloys by means of GDOES

Rolling of aluminium alloys is known to alter the surface properties. Radiofrequency glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (RF GDOES) was introduced to study the elemental composition of the surface and near‐surface regions of a commercial AA3005 hot‐rolled aluminium alloy, before and after annealing treatments for full (bulk) recrystallization. Qualitative GDOES depth profiles (signal intensity as a function of sputtering time) suggest enrichment of some and depletion of other alloying elements as well as the introduction of impurity elements within the disturbed surface layer of the alloy. The depth profiles are correlated with SEM/EDXA observations in the GDOES craters. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.