• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.408-418
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• 2023

In this study, we synthesized and characterized garnet-type Li_7-xAl_xLa₃Zr_2-(5/4)yNbyO₁₂ (LALZN) solid electrolytes for all-solid-state battery applications. Our novel approach focused on enhancing ionic conductivity, which is crucial for battery efficiency. A systematic examination found that co-doping with Al and Nb significantly improved this conductivity. Al³⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ ions were incorporated at Li⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ sites, respectively. This doping resulted in LALZN electrolytes with optimized properties, most notably enhanced ionic conductivity. An optimized mixture with 0.25 mol each of Al and Nb dopants achieved a peak conductivity of 1.32 × 10^-4 S cm^-1. We fabricated symmetric cells using these electrolytes and observed excellent charge-discharge profiles and remarkable cycling longevity, demonstrating the potential for long-term application in battery systems. The garnet-type LALZN solid electrolytes, with their high ionic conductivity and stability, show great potential for enhancing the performance of all-solid-state batteries. This study not only advances the understanding of effective doping strategies but also underscores the practical applicability of the LALZN system in modern energy storage solutions.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.457-465
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• 2023

Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is one of the main degradation mechanisms of austenitic stainless steels, which are used as reactor internal materials. Slow strain rate testing (SSRT) has been widely applied to evaluate the IASCC initiation characteristics of proton-irradiated tensile specimens. Tensile specimens require low surface roughness for micro-crack observation, and electropolishing is the most important specimen pre-treatment process used for this. In this study, optimal electropolishing conditions were examined through analyzing results of polarization experiments and surface roughness measurements after electropolishing. Corrosion cell and electropolishing equipment were fabricated for polarization tests and electropolishing experiments using SSRT specimens. The experimental parameters were electropolishing time, current density, electrolyte temperature, and stirring speed. The optimal electropolishing conditions for SSRT tensile specimens made of type 316 stainless steel were evaluated as a polishing time of 180 seconds, a current density of 0.15 A/cm², an electrolyte temperature of 60 ℃, and a stirring speed of 200 RPM.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2024

An attempt was made to apply digital image correlation (DIC) strain analysis to in-situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of bending deformation to quantify local strain distribution inside a ZnMgAl-alloy coating in deformation. Interstitial-free steel sheets were hot-dipped in a Zn-3Mg-6Al (mass%) alloy melt at 400 ℃ for 2 s. The specimens were deformed using a miniature-sized 4-point bending test machine inside the SEM chamber. The observed in situ SEM images were used for DIC strain analysis. The hot-dip ZnMgAl-alloy coating exhibited a solidification microstructure composed of a three-phase eutectic of fine Al (fcc), Zn (hcp), and Zn2Mg phases surrounding the primary solidified Al phases. The relatively coarsened Zn₂Mg phases were locally observed inside the ZnMgAl-alloy coating. The DIC strain analysis revealed that the strain was localized in the primary solidified Al phases and fine eutectic microstructure around the Zn₂Mg phase. The results indicated high deformability of the multi-phase microstructure of the ZnMgAl-alloy coating.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2024

In recent years, Zn-Al-Mg alloy galvanized steel sheets have been widely used as coated steel sheets to support social capital in the infrastructure field. A feature of Zn-Al-Mg alloy-coated steel sheets is that they provide a better corrosion protection period than Zn-coated steel sheets. In this study, the corrosion resistance of a new Zn-Al-Mg alloy-coated steel sheet was investigated and compared to that of conventional commercially available coated steel sheets. The investigation confirmed that increasing the Mg concentration in the Zn-Al-Mg-coated steel sheet improved corrosion resistance, which was more than 10 times that of the galvanized steel sheet specified in JIS G 3302. The study findings also confirmed that the corrosion resistance reached more than twice that of the coated steel sheet specified in JIS G 3323. If such galvanized steel sheets are applied to social infrastructures that are exposed to severely corrosive environments, the service life of the infrastructure might be extended.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2024

This paper introduces Primetals Technologies' Through-Process Optimization (TPO) Services and Through-Process Quality Control (TPQC) System, which integrate domain knowledge, software, and automation expertise to assist steel producers in achieving operational excellence. TPQC collects high-resolution process and product data from the entire production route, providing visualizations and facilitating quality assurance. It also enables the application of artificial intelligence techniques to optimize processes, accelerate steel grade development, and enhance product quality. The main objective of TPO is to grow and digitize operational know-how, increase profitability, and better meet customer needs. The paper describes the contribution of these systems to achieving operational excellence, with a focus on quality assurance. Transparent and traceable production data is used for manual and automatic quality evaluation, resulting in product quality status and guiding the product disposition process. Deviation management is supported by rule-based and AI-based assistants, along with monitoring, alarming, and reporting functions ensuring early recognition of deviations. Embedded root cause proposals and their corrective and compensatory actions facilitate decision support to maintain product quality. Quality indicators and predictive quality models further enhance the efficiency of the quality assurance process. Utilizing the quality assurance software package, TPQC acts as a "one-truth" platform for product quality key players.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2024

Recently, due to the rapid spread and continuation of COVID-19, customer demand for health and hygiene has increased, requiring the development of new products that express antiviral and antibacterial properties. In particular, viruses are much smaller in size than bacteria and have a fast propagation speed, making it difficult to kill. POSCO has developed eco-friendly PCM color coated steel sheets with excellent antiviral properties by introducing inorganic composite materials to the color coating layer on the surface of Zn-Al-Mg alloy plated steels. The virus is not only destroyed by adsorption of metal ions released from the surface of the coating film, but is also further promoted by the generation of reactive oxygen species by the reaction of metal ions and moisture. As a result of evaluating the developed products under the International Standard Evaluation Act, the microbicidal activity was 99.9% for viruses, and 99.99% for bacteria and 0% fungi. In particular, excellent results were also shown in the durability evaluation for life cycle of the product. The developed product was applied as a wall of school classrooms and toilets and ducts for building air conditioning, resulting in excellent results. Developed products are being applied for construction and home appliances to practice POSCO's corporate citizenship.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2024

In the automotive industry, the hole expanding test is widely used to assess the formability of punched holes in sheets. This test provides a good representation of formability within the framework defined by the ISO 16630 standard. During hole expanding tests on galvanized high strength steels, a negative effect was observed when there was a delay between hole punching and expansion, as compared to performing both operations directly. This effect is believed to be caused by hydrogen aging, which occurs when hydrogen diffuses towards highly-work hardened edges. Therefore, the aim of this study is to demonstrate the migration of hydrogen towards work-hardened edges in high strength Zn-coated steel sheets using a novel Thermal Desorption Analyzer (TDA) designed for small samples. This newly-developed TDA setup allows for the quantification of local diffusible hydrogen near cut edges. With its induction heating and ability to analyze Zn-coated samples while reducing artifacts, this setup offers flexible heat cycles. Through this method, a hydrogen gradient is observed over short distances in shear-cut galvanized steel sheets after a certain period of time following punching.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.166-178
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• 2024

The localized corrosion resistance of UNS N07718 alloy was investigated after solution heat treatment. When the alloy was heat-treated at 1050 ℃ for 2.5 hours, it experienced an increase in average grain diameter, a reduction in grain boundary area, and the dissolution of delta phases along grain boundaries. Additionally, primary metallic nitrides (MN) and metallic carbides (MC), enriched with either Ti or Nb, were identified and exhibited a random distribution within the microstructures. Despite the solution heat treatment, the composition, diameter, and abundance of MNs and MCs remained relatively consistent. The critical pitting temperature (CPT), as determined by the ASTM G48-C immersion test, revealed similar values of 45 ℃ for both treated and untreated alloys. However, a decrease in maximum pit depth and corrosion rate was observed after the solution heat treatment. The microstructural changes that occurred during the heat treatment and their potential implications were discussed to understand the influence of the solution heat treatment.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2024

A hot-dip simulator was utilized to replicate abnormal coating buildup observed during line stops at galvanize lines, assessing the influence of processing conditions on buildup (up to 14 mm/side). Steel samples from 19 coils (comprising IF, BH, LCAK, HSLA, DP600-DP1180, Si: 0.006 - 0.8 wt%, P: 0.009 - 0.045 wt%) were examined to explore the phenomenon of heavy coating growth. It was discovered that heavy coating buildup (~3 mm/h) and rapid strip dissolution (~0.17 mm/h) in a GA or GI pot can manifest with specific combinations of steel chemistry and processing conditions. The results reveal the formation of a unique coating microstructure, characterized by a blend of bulky Zeta crystals and free Zn pockets/networks due to the "Sandlin" growth mechanism. Key variables contributing to abnormal coating growth include steel Si content, anneal temperature, dew point in heating and soaking furnaces, Zn pot temperature, Zn bath Al%, and cold-rolling reduction%. At ArcelorMittal Dofasco galvanize lines, an automatic online warning system for operators and special scheduling for incoming Si-bearing steels have been implemented, effectively preventing further heavy buildup occurrences.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2024

In the present work, a phase-field model for dendritic solidification is applied to hot-dip ZnAlMg coatings to elucidate the morphology of zinc dendrites and the solute segregation leading to the formation of eutectics. These aspects define the microstructure that conditions the corrosion resistance and the mechanical behaviour of the coating. Along with modelling phase transformation and solute diffusion, the implemented model is partially coupled with the tracking of crystal orientation in solid grains, thus allowing the effects of surface tension anisotropy to be considered in multi-dendrite simulations. For this purpose, the composition of a hot-dip ZnAlMg coating is assimilated to a dilute pseudo-binary system. 1D and 2D simulations of isothermal solidification are performed in a finite element solver by introducing nuclei as initial conditions. The results are qualitatively consistent with existing analytical solutions for growth velocity and concentration profiles, but the spatial domain of the simulations is limited by the required mesh refinement.