• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 2023

This work was intended to investigate the effects of Zn content on microstructure and hardness of discontinuous precipitates (DPs) produced by continuous cooling (CC) in Mg-8%Al-X%Zn alloys with 0%, 0.5% and 1% of Zn contents (wt%). The DPs in the alloys possessed a wide range of (α+β) interlamellar spacings, which is attributed to the different transformation temperatures during CC. The higher Zn content resulted in the lower level of interlamellar spacings of the DPs, along with thinner and larger volume fraction of β phase layer in the DPs. It is noted that the DPs in the alloy with higher Zn content exhibited higher hardness, and that the ratio of increase in hardness of the DPs to that of the as-cast state was also increased with increasing Zn content. The reason was discussed on the basis of microstructural differences of the DPs in the Mg-8%Al-X%Zn alloys.

• 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.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.135-143
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• 2020

Low-cost alloying elements were added to a modified Al-6.5Si alloy and its microstructure, tensile and impact toughness properties were investigated. The alloying elements added were Mg, Zn, and Cu, and two kinds of alloy A (Mg:0.5, Zn:1, Cu:1.5 wt.%) and alloy B (Mg:2, Zn:1.5, Cu:2 wt.%) were prepared. In the as-cast Al-6.5Si alloys, Si phases were distributed at the dendrite interfaces, and Al₂Cu, Mg₂Si, Al₆ (Fe,Mn) and Al₅ (Fe,Mn)Si precipitates were also observed. The size and fraction of casting defects were measured to be higher for alloy A than for alloy B. The secondary dendrite arm spacing of alloy B was finer than that of alloy A. It was confirmed by the JMatPro S/W that the cooling rate of alloy B could be more rapid than alloy A. The alloy B had higher hardness and strength compared to the values of alloy A. However, the alloy A showed better impact toughness than alloy B. Based on the above results, the deformation mechanism of Al-6.5Si alloy and the improving method for mechanical properties were also discussed.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.53-61
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• 2015

Effects of Zn addition on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of Mg-8%Al-(0-1)%Zn casting alloys were investigated. With increasing Zn content, the amount of ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ phase increased, while ${\alpha}$-(Mg) dendritic cell size became reduced. The corrosion rate decreased continuously with the increase in the Zn content. The evaluation of the microstructural evolution indicates that the improved barrier effect of ${\beta}$ particles formed more continuously along the dendritic cell boundaries and the incorporation of more ZnO into the surface corrosion product, by which the absorption of $Cl^-$ ions is impeded, are responsible for the better corrosion resistance in relation to the Zn addition.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.542-549
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• 2020

Effects of Sc addition on microstructure, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the as-cast and as-extruded Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg-xSc (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5 wt%) alloys are investigated. The average grain size of the as-cast Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg alloy is 2,334 ㎛; however, this value drops to 914 and 529 ㎛ with addition of Sc element at 0.25 wt% and 0.5 wt%, respectively. This grain refinement is due to primary Al₃Sc phase forming during solidification. The as-extruded Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg alloy has a recrystallization structure consisting of almost equiaxed grains. However, the as-extruded Sc-containing alloys consist of grains that are extremely elongated in the extrusion direction. In addition, it is found that the proportion of low-angle grain boundaries below 15 degree is dominant. This is because the addition of Sc results in the formation of coherent and nano-scale Al₃Sc phases during hot extrusion, inhibiting the process of recrystallization and improving the strength by pinning of dislocations and the formation of subgrain boundaries. The maximum values of the yield and tensile strength are 126 MPa and 215 MPa for the as-extruded Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg-0.25Sc alloy, respectively. The increase in strength is probably due to the existence of nano-scale Al₃Sc precipitates and dense Al₂Cu phases. Thermal conductivity of the as-cast Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg-xSc alloy is reduced to 204, 187 and 183 W/MK by additions of elemental Sc of 0, 0.25 and 0.5 wt%, respectively. On the other hand, the thermal conductivity of the as-extruded Al-2Zn-1Cu-0.3Mg-xSc alloy is about 200 W/Mk regardless of the content of Sc. This is because of the formation of coherent Al₃Sc phase, which decreases Sc content and causes extremely high electrical resistivity.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 1996.05a
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• pp.86-86
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• 1996

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.140-140
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• 2003

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2005

Effects of Zn and Zr additions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-5%Mg-1%Mn alloys were investigated. As Zn content increased in the Al-Mg-Mn-Zn alloys, the tensile strength and ductility of as-cast alloys rather decreased while the tensile strength of the heat-treated alloys significantly increased mainly due to the precipitation of fine $MgZn_2$ phases. Small amount of Zr was added to the 3%Zn alloy to further enhance the mechanical properties, and it appeared to increase the strength and ductility, especially in as-cast state.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2010

The microstructure of Al-5%Mg based alloy mainly consists of aluminum matrix with a small amount of AlMn phase. The addition of Sc or Zn to the base alloy significantly improved the as-cast tensile strength, while the addition of Fe deteriorated both strength and ductility. Although the Al-5%Mg based alloy was not heat-treatable, aging hardening could be observed in the case that Sc or Zn was added to the base alloy. TEM analysis showed that very fine AlSc or AlMgZn precipitates were formed after T6 heat treatment, resulting in enhanced strength. The corrosion resistance measured as corrosion potential was found to decrease a little by adding Zn, whereas other alloying elements were not clearly influential.