• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.198-205
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• 2023

We investigated the effects of Al and Mg on the microstructure and hardness of the coating layer of galvanized steel sheets, by thermodynamic calculations, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Vickers hardness tests of Zn-0.2Al, Zn-6Al-2Mg, and Zn-10Al-5Mg coating layers. Regardless of the alloy composition of the galvanizing bath, a Fe-Al layer was observed between the coating layer and steel sheet. The Zn-0.2Al coating layer consists of major h.c.p. Zn phase and minor f.c.c. Al phase. The fraction of f.c.c. Al phase (containing a significant amount of Zn) of the coating layer increases with increasing the chemical composition of Al of the galvanizing bath. The h.c.p. MgZn₂ phase was formed in the Al/Mg-containing Zn-6Al-2Mg and Zn-10Al-5Mg coating layers, forming Zn-Al-MgZn₂ eutectic microstructure. The primary MgZn₂ phase was additionally formed in the Zn-10Al-5Mg coating layers containing high concentrations of Al and Mg. The Vickers hardness values of Zn-0.2Al, Zn-6Al-2Mg, and Zn-10Al-5Mg coating layers were 59.1 ± 1.2 HV, 161.2 ± 5.7 HV, and 215.5 ± 40.3 HV, respectively. The addition of Al and Mg increased the hardness of the coating layer by increasing the fraction of the Al phase (containing Zn) and MgZn₂ intermetallic compound, which were harder than the Zn phase.

• 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.4
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• pp.289-295
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• 2024

Zn-Mg-Al alloy hot-dip galvanized steel sheet has high corrosion resistance. Compared to conventional Zn coating with the same coating thickness, the high corrosion resistance Zn-Mg-Al coating is more corrosion-resistant. Various coating compositions are commercially produced and applied in diverse fields. However, these steel sheets typically contain up to 3 wt% magnesium. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for higher corrosion resistance in harsh corrosive environments. Therefore, variations in Mg and Al contents were investigated while evaluating primary properties and performance. As a result, we developed new alloy-coated steel with ultra-high corrosion resistance. A Zn-5 wt%Mg-Al coated steel sheet was evaluated for its corrosion resistance and various properties. As the amount of Mg added increased, the corrosion loss tended to decrease. The corrosion resistance of the coated steel sheet in a particular composition, the Zn-5 wt%Mg-Al coating sheet, was about 1.5 to 2 times higher than that of the conventional Zn-3 wt%Mg-Al coating sheet. Ultimately, this ultra-high corrosion-resistance coated steel sheet will provide a robust solution to conserve Zn resources and contribute to a low-carbon society.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2024

Hot-dip Zn-Mg-Al coatings have a complex microstructure consisting of Zn, Al, and MgZn₂ phases. Its crystal structure depends on alloy content and cooling rates. Microstructure and corrosion resistance of these coatings might be affected by heat treatment. To investigate effect of heat treatment on microstructure and corrosion resistance of Zn-Mg-Al coatings, Zn-1.5%Mg-1.5%Al coated steel was heated up to 550 ℃ at a heating rate of 80 ℃/s and cooled down to room temperature. At above 500 ℃, the ternary phase of Zn-MgZn₂-Al was melted down. Only Zn and MgZn₂ phases remained in the coating. Heat- and non-heat-treated specimens showed similar corrosion resistance in Salt Spray Test (SST). When a Zn-3.0%Mg-2.5%Al coated steel was subjected to heat treatment at 100 ℃ or 300 ℃ for 200 h and compared with GA and GI coated steels, the microstructure of coatings was not significantly changed at 100 ℃. However, at 300 ℃, most Al in the coating reacted with Fe in the substrate, forming a Fe-Al compound layer in the lower part of the coating. MgZn₂ was preferentially formed in the upper part of the coating. As a result of SST, Zn-Mg-Al coated steels showed excellent corrosion resistance, better than GA and GI.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.704-709
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• 2021

In the flux used in the batch galvanizing process, the effect of the component ratio of NH₄Cl to ZnCl₂ on the microstructure, coating adhesion, and corrosion resistance of Zn-Mg-Al ternary alloy-coated steel is evaluated. Many defects such as cracks and bare spots are formed inside the Zn-Mg-Al coating layer during treatment with the flux composition generally used for Zn coating. Deterioration of the coating property is due to the formation of AlCl_x mixture generated by the reaction of Al element and chloride in the flux. The coatability of the Zn-Mg-Al alloy coating is improved by increasing the content of ZnCl₂ in the flux to reduce the amount of chlorine reacting with Al while maintaining the flux effect and the coating adhesion is improved as the component ratio of NH₄Cl to ZnCl₂ decreases. Zn-Mg-Al alloy-coated steel products treated with the optimized flux composition of NH₄Cl·3ZnCl₂ show superior corrosion resistance compared to Zn-coated steel products, even with a coating weight of 60 %.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2022

To understand effects of cooling rates of coating layer on microstructures and corrosion behaviors of hot-dip alloy coated steel sheets (Zn-5%Al-2%Mg) in a neutral aqueous condition with chloride ion, a range of experimental and analytical methods were used in this study. Results showed that a faster cooling rate during solidification decreased the fraction of primary Zn, and increased the fraction of Zn-Al phase. In addition, interlamellar spacing became refined under a faster cooling rate. These modifications of the coating structure had higher open circuit potentials (OCP) with smaller anodic and cathodic current densities in the electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization. Surface analyses after a salt spray test showed that the increase in the Zn-Al phase in the coating formed under a faster cooling rate might have contributed to the formation of simonkolleite (Zn₅(OH)₈Cl₂·H₂O) and hydrotalcite (ZnAl₂(OH)₆Cl₂·H₂O) with a protective nature on the corroded outer surface, thus delaying the formation of red rust.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.233-238
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• 2010

Hot-dipped Al-Mg-Si coatings to alternate Zn and Zn alloy coatings for steel were examined on metallographic structure, corrosion resistance, sacrificial ability, formation and growth of inter-metallic compounds, and mechanical properties. Near the eutectic composition of quasi-binary system of Al-$Mg_2Si$, very fine eutectic structure of ${\alpha}$-Al and $Mg_2Si$ was obtained and it showed excellent corrosion resistivity and sacrificial ability for a steel in sodium chloride solutions. Formation and growth of Al-Fe inter-metallic compounds at the interface of substrate steel and coated layer was suppressed by addition of Si. The inter-metallic compounds layer was usually brittle, however, the coating layer did not peel off as long as the thickness of the inter-metallic compounds layer was small enough. During sacrificial protection of a steel, amount of hydrogen into the steel was more than ten times smaller than that of Zn coated steel, suggesting to prevent hydrogen embrittlement. Al-Mg-Si coating is expected to apply for several kinds of high strength steels.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.393-401
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• 2024

Zn-Al-Mg hot-dip-galvanized steel sheets exhibit some specific surface phenomena that have not been observed on GI coatings and have only been published to a limited extent. One visually very striking optical appearance has been discussed in the literature under the names "freckles" and "dark spots." However, only a rough formation mechanism has been described to date. Brisberger et al. found foreign particles in the center of the defect that could be considered to be a nucleation seed for a freckle. However, the influence of these occurrences on processing properties has not yet been described. For more detailed information on the formation and cause of freckles, metallographic examinations and laboratory trials were carried out in a hot-dip galvanizing simulator to gain a fundamental understanding of the formation mechanism. Topography and processing properties, such as phosphatability, paint appearance, forming properties, and corrosion resistance, were assessed by various methods. Freckles exhibited locally altered crystallization due to a foreign particle, which has an impact on the Zn-Al-Mg coating itself as well as its complex microstructure. New findings on the formation mechanism were obtained from investigations with our hot-dip simulator, which showed possibilities for controlling these surface phenomena in an industrial environment.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2023

The effects of hairline treatment on surface blackening and thermal diffusion behaviors of Zn-Al-Mg alloy coated steel sheet were evaluated by the three-dimensional surface profiler and laser-flash technique. The metallographic observation of coating damages by hairline treatments showed that several cracks were initiated and propagated along the interface between primary Zn/eutectic phases. As the hairline processing became more severe, the crack occurrence frequency in eutectic phase of coating layer and the surface roughness increased, which had a proportional relationship with the level of blackening on the coating surface. In addition, the higher interfacial areas of the blackened coating surface, caused by the hairline process, led to an increase in thermal diffusivity and conductivity of the coated steel sheet. On the other hand, when the coating damage by hairline treatment was excessive and the steel substrate was exposed, there was little difference between the thermal diffusivity/conductivity of the untreated sample though the blackening degree was higher than that of untreated sample. This work suggests that the increase in the surface areas of the coating layer without exposure to steel substrate through hairline treatment can be one of the effective technical strategies for the development of Zn-Al-Mg alloy coated steel sheets with higher blackening level and thermal diffusivity.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.387-392
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• 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate corrosion resistance of Zn-Al-Mg alloy coated steel in residential water with trace quantities of Cl^-. Comparative evaluations were performed using two commercial coated steel products, GI and Galvalume, as reference samples. Examination of corrosion morphology and measurement of weight loss revealed that the Zn-Al-Mg alloy coated steel exhibited higher corrosion resistance than reference samples. This finding suggests that the alloy coated steel possesses long-term corrosion resistance not only in highly Cl^- concentrated environments such as seawater, but also in environments with extremely low levels of Cl^- found in residential water. The primary factor contributing to the superior corrosion resistance of the Zn-Al-Mg alloy coated steel in residential water is the formation of an inhibiting corrosion product composed primarily of two phases: Zn₅(OH)₆(CO₃)₂ and Zn₅(OH)₈Cl₂·H₂O. The preferential dissolution of Mg from the corroded coating layer can increase alkalinity, which might enhance the thermodynamical stability of Zn₅(OH)₆(CO₃)₂.