한양대학교

During the hot dip galvanizing process, dross particles, which are intermetallic compounds of the Zn-Fe-Al system, affect the surface quality of the steel sheet. Thus, the changes in Fe or Al concentration in molten zinc have a significant impact on the production of high-quality steels. When a steel sheet is immersed in a zinc bath, dissolved iron creates the Fe-Zn and Fe-Al intermetallic compound layer on the surface of the steel sheet. Additionally, dissolved iron from the steel sheet promotes the precipitation of d (FeZn10Alx), z (FeZn13), and h (Fe2Al5Znx) phase dross particles in molten zinc.

Even though previous studies have predicted the dissolution rate of Fe in practical conditions, the mechanism of iron dissolution from the steel sheet has not been fully clarified. Thus, the objective of the present work was to confirm the mechanism of iron dissolution as well as the effect of the initial Fe content in the Zn bath on the dissolution rate of iron using a finger rotating method (FRM), in which the iron cylinder was rotated with a fixed revolution per minute (rpm) rather than a simple dipping method in order to qualitatively simulate the dynamic galvanizing operation conditions.

Zinc coatings are predominantly used to improve the aqueous corrosion of steel by providing barrier protection as well as galvanic protection. One of the typical processing methods used in producing Zn coatings is hot-dip galvanizing (HDG), i.e. the immersion of a steel sheet in a liquid bath of Zn or Zn alloy, by batch or continuous processing, the latter being more advantageous for coiled products. The growing importance of HDG coatings on automotive parts has led in recent years to studies on the mechanisms of their formation on IF steel substrates as well as high strength TRIP and TWIP steels of high strength and good formability.

DINC HUH, is with ne with teh ment Team, Dross in the Zn pot can be classified by oxide type (Zn and/or Al) and intermetallic compound type (Zn-Fe and Fe-Al). The latter type tends to cause dross problems and forms in the Zn pot when Al and Fe are present in concentrations above the solubility limits. Specifically, problematic intermetallic compounds have been identified as Fe2Al5Znx (h phase) “top” or “floating” dross as well as FeZn7 (d1 phase), FeZn10Alx (d phase) and FeZn13 (z phase) “bottom” dross particles.

A number of studies have investigated the phase equilibria of Zn-Al-Fe ternary systems, and stable and metastable phases in dross formation. There have been several studies on the kinetics of dross particle formation including estimation of the diffusion coefficients of Al and Fe in a Zn bath, modeling of dissolution of Fe from steel sheet, and Al uptake. However, compared to the thermodynamic and kinetic modeling studies in the formation behavior of dross particles, there have been few experimental studies attempting to elucidate the dross particle (morphology and phase) evolution during galvanizing processes.

Based on these preceding studies, the effect of Al content on the formation behavior of dross particles has partly been unveiled. However, it is also important to take into account the formation behavior of dross particles under conditions of pouring the premelted Zn-Al ingot into the bath, in which the Al content is locally increased and thus affects the very initial stage of dross formation. In the present study, the shape, size, and composition of dross particles as a function of Al content at a fixed bath temperature were investigated for Al added to the premelted Zn-Fe melt using a sampling methodology.