Distribution of aluminum in hot-dip galvanized coatings
Hot-dip galvanized panels of low-carbon (LC) and interstitial-free (IF) steels were produced in a laboratory simulator with an average coating mass of 60 g/m{sup 2}. Three pot aluminum levels were used, viz. 0.10% (by wt), 0.15%, and 0.18%. Metallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize coating and base steel microstructures. Wet chemical analysis and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) were employed for compositional analyses. The aluminum content of the melt was found to be the predominant factor influencing the distribution of Al in the coating. At 0.18% melt aluminum, Al is partitioned between the aluminide inhibition layer at the coating-steel interface ({approximately}80%) and the zinc overlay ({approximately}20%). At 0.15%, it is partitioned among the aluminide layer ({approximately}75% to 80%), zinc-iron (FeZn{sub 13}, {zeta}) intermetallic layer ({approximately}5% to 15%), and the coating overlay ({approximately}10%). At 0.10%, the aluminum is divided almost equally between the overlay and the zinc-iron intermetallics. At the two lower aluminum levels is the distribution marginally influenced by the steel grade. The {zeta} was found to not preferentially nucleate at the ferrite grain boundaries. When both the aluminide and {zeta} occurred at the coating-steel interface, the {zeta} particles appeared near discontinuities and thinner regions in the aluminide layer. The coating, relative to the melt, is enriched in aluminum because of its concentration in the aluminide and in the zinc-iron intermetallics. This enrichment increases with melt aluminum through an increase in the aluminum content of the aluminide layer and not of its thickness.
- Research Organization:
- Bethlehem Steel Corp., PA (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20005972
- Journal Information:
- Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science, Vol. 30, Issue 12; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1999; ISSN 1073-5623
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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