• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.289-295
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• 2008

The effect of the alloy elements(Si/Mn) ratio on the coating quality including wettabilty with molten zinc, galvannealing kinetics and crater has been investigated in interstitial-free high strength steel(IFHSS) containing Si and Mn. When the Si/Mn ratio was below 0.75, IF-HSS exhibited a good wettability leading to a good galvannealed coating quality after annealing at $800^{\circ}C$ for 40s in $15%H_2-N_2$ mixed gas with dew point $-60^{\circ}C$. In contrast, the wettability and galvannealed coating quality were deteriorated in the Si/ Mn ratio above 0.75. It is shown that they have relevance to oxides forms by selective oxidation on the steel surface. The oxide particles dispersed on the steel surface with a surface coverage of below 40% resulted in good wettability and galvannealed coating quality. The oxide particle is mainly consisted of $Mn_2SiO_4$ with low contact angle in molten zinc. On the other hand, the continuous oxide layer on the steel surface, such as network- and film-type,caused to poor wettability and galvannealed coating quality. The coverage of oxide layer was above 80%, and its chemical species was $SiO_2$ with high contact angle in molten zinc. Consequently, the Si/Mn alloy ratio played an importance role in galvannealed coating quality of IF-HSS.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 2011

In order to gain better understanding of the selective surface oxidation and its influence on the galvanizability of a transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) assisted steel containing 1.5 wt.% Si and 1.6 wt.% Mn, a model experiment has been carried out by depositing Si and Mn (each with a nominal thickness of 10 nm) in either monolayers or bilayers on a low-alloy interstitial-free (IF) steel sheet. After intercritical annealing at $800^{\circ}C$ in a $N_2$ ambient with a dew point of $-40^{\circ}C$, the surface scale formed on 590 MPa TRIP steel exhibited a microstructure similar to that of the scale formed on the Mn/Si bilayer-coated IF steel, consisting of $Mn_{2}SiO_{4}$ particles embedded in an amorphous $SiO_{2}$ film. The present study results indicated that, during the intercritical annealing process of 590 MPa TRIP steel, surface segregation of Si occurs first to form an amorphous $SiO_{2}$ film, which in turn accelerates the out-diffusion of Mn to form more stable Mn-Si oxide particles on the steel surface. During hot-dip galvanizing, particulate $Fe_{3}O_{4}$, MnO, and Si-Mn oxides were reduced more readily by Al in a Zn bath than the amorphous $SiO_{2}$ film. Therefore, in order to improve the galvanizability of 590 TRIP steel, it is most desirable to minimize the surface segregation of Si during the intercritical annealing process.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2008

The gas atmosphere in continuous annealing and galvanizing lines alters both composition and microstructure of the surface and sub-surface of sheet steel. The formation and morphology of the oxides of alloying elements in High Strength Interstitial Free (HS-IF), Dual Phase (DP) and Transformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steels are strongly influenced by the furnace dew point, and the presence of specific oxide may result in surface defects and bare areas on galvanized sheet products. The present contribution reviews the progress made recently in understanding the selective formation of surface and subsurface oxides during annealing in hot dip galvanizing and conventional continuous annealing lines. It is believed that the surface and sub-surface composition and microstructure have a pronounced influence on galvanized sheet product surface quality. In the present study, it is shown that the understanding of the relevant phenomena requires a combination of precise laboratory-scale simulations of the relevant technological processes and the use of advanced surface analytical tools.