• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.341-350
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• 2023

In the present study, effects of a thin Zn-flash coating on hydrogen evolution, infusion, and embrittlement of advanced high strength steel during electro-galvanizing were examined. The electrochemical permeation technique in conjunction with impedance spectroscopy was employed under applied cathodic polarization. Moreover, a slow-strain rate test was conducted to evaluate loss of elongation (i.e., indicative of hydrogen embrittlement (HE)) and examine fracture surfaces. Results showed that the presence of a thin Zn-flash coating, even when it was not distributed uniformly, reduced hydrogen evolution rate and substantially impeded infusion of hydrogen into the steel substrate. This was primarily due to a hydrogen overvoltage on Zn coating and trapping of hydrogen at the interface of Zn coating/flash coating/steel substrate. Consequently, the sample with flash coating had a smaller HE index than the sample without flash coating. These results suggest that a thin Zn-flash coating could be an effective technical strategy for mitigating HE in advanced high-strength steels.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.302-309
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to elucidate effects of a thin (tens to hundreds of nanometers) Ni-flash coating layer on hydrogen embrittlement (HE) and liquid metal embrittlement (LME) in ultra-high-strength electrogalvanized steel with a tensile strength of more than 1 GPa. Various experimental and analytical methods, including thermal desorption spectroscopy, slow strain rate testing, resistance spot welding, X-ray diffraction, and metallographic observation, were employed. Results showed that an increase in Ni target amount for flash coating resulted in a decrease in diffusible hydrogen content during electrogalvanizing, resulting in a significant decrease in HE sensitivity. Moreover, a Ni target amount of more than 1000 mg/m² drastically reduced the occurring frequency and average depth of LME. This reduction could be primarily attributed to formation of Zn-Ni intermetallic phases during the welding process that could inhibit liquefaction of intermetallic phases in the heat-affected zone. This study provides a desirable Ni target amount for Ni-flash coating on ultra-high-strength steels conducted in a continuous galvanizing line or a high-speed batch line to achieve high resistance to both HE and LME.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface 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.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.17-21
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• 2013

Sn whiskers are one of the serious causes of the failure of electronics. Sn whiskers grow spontaneously from Sn-based, lead-free finished surfaces, even at room temperature. A primary factor of these Sn whiskers growth is compressive stress, which enhances the diffusion of Sn or other elements. The sources of compressive stress are the growth of non-uniform large intermetallic compounds along the interface between the Sn grain boundary and Cu substrate. Recent studies revealed the methods for reducing Sn whisker growth. This paper gives an overview about recent researches for mitigation methods of Sn whisker growth during nearly room temperature storage.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.6098-6105
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• 2013

In the present study, the characteristics of corrosion and thermal conductivity of thermal spray coatings for seawater heat exchangers were examined experimentally. The coating types of theZn and Al thermal spray coatings with additional epoxy and silicone sealers were tested. To examine the corrosion characteristics of the thermal spray coating, the cyclic voltamogram curve was measured followed by SEM imaging for surface characterization. The laser flash method was usedto measure the thermal conductivity of the specimen. The conductivity test results showed that thermal conductivity decreased by3 ~ 4% with the silicone sealer and decreased by 70 ~ 75% with the epoxy sealer.