| Title |
A Study on Fire Cause Identification Using EBSD-Based Quantitative Analysis of Molten Marks on Copper Conductors |
| Authors |
김정환(Jeong-Hwan Kim) ; 백대령(Dae-Ryeong Baek) ; 최치우(Chi-woo Choi) ; 박광묵(Kwang-muk Park) ; 김정기(Jeong-Gi Kim) ; 이진식(Jin-sik Lee) ; 김재현(Jae-Hyun Kim) ; 전정채(Jeong-Chay Jeon) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5370/KIEE.2025.74.12.2393 |
| Keywords |
Fire cause identification; Copper conductor; Arc bead; Thermal mark; EBSD; Grain; Texture; Misorientation; Quantitative Analysis. |
| Abstract |
In this study, we propose an electron backscatter diffraction EBSD-based method for discriminating molten marks on copper conductors associated with electrical fires. Using identical copper wires, three types of molten marks were reproduced: (1) ambient-temperature live short circuits (primary arcs), (2) preheated live short circuits (secondary arcs), and (3) unenergized external heating (heat-only). EBSD analysis combining image quality/aspect ratio (IQ/AR) maps, high- and low-angle grain boundary (HAGB/LAGB) distributions, and pole figure/inverse pole figure (PF/IPF) data was used to evaluate solidification directionality, recrystallization, and thermal deformation. Primary-arc marks exhibit sharp fusion boundaries, strong directional solidification, and pronounced (001) textures. Secondary-arc marks show mixed columnar and equiaxed grains with asymmetric textures. Heat-only melts are characterized by predominantly equiaxed grains, weak textures, and diffuse fusion boundaries. The proposed EBSD indicator set (IQ·AR·HAGB + PF/IPF) complements conventional visual examination and enables objective, reproducible forensic discrimination of molten marks for fire-cause analysis. |