CMnAl TRIP Steel Surface Modification During CGL Processing

The mechanisms of selective oxidation of intercritically annealed CMnAl TRIP steels in a Continuous Galvanizing Line (GCL) were studied by cross-sectional observation of the surface and sub-surface regions by means of High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). The selective oxidation and nitriding of an intercritically annealed CMnAl TRIP steel in a controlled dew point 10%$H_2+N_2$ atmosphere resulted in the formation of c-xMnO.$MnO_2$ (1${\leq}$x<3) and c-xMnO.$Al_2O_3$ ($x{\geq}1$) particles on the steel surface. Single crystal c-xMnO.$SiO_2$ ($2{\leq}x{\leq}4$) oxide particles were also observed on the surface. A thin film of crystalline c-xMnO.$SiO_2$ (2${\leq}$x<3) and c-xMnO.$Al_2O_3$ ($x{\geq}1$) was present between these particles. In the sub-surface region, internal oxidation, nitriding and intermetallic compound formation were observed. In the first region, large crystalline c-xMnO.$SiO_2$ ($1{\geq}x{\geq}2$) and c-xMnO.$Al_2O_3$ ($x{\geq}1$) oxides particles were present. In the second region, c-AlN particles were observed, and in a third region, small $MnAl_x$ (x>1) intermetallic compound particles were observed.