Mechanism on Heterogeneous Nucleation of the Primary Al Phase on TiAl3 of a Hot-Dip Zn-11%Al-3%Mg-0.2%Si Coating on Steel Sheet

Abstract

The solidification structure of a hot-dip Zn-11%Al-3%Mg-0.2%Si coating with a Ti addition on a steel substrate was investigated. Steel sheet was coated using a laboratory hot-dip galvanizing simulator. The coating was subsequently characterized via optical and high resolution scanning electron microscopy with EBSD and high temperature X-ray diffractometry. The hot-dip coating consisted of a combination of a Zn/Al/MgZn2 ternary eutectic structure, primary Al phase and MgZn2 phase. TiAl3 acts as a heterogeneous nucleation site for Al, which was shown to have perfect lattice coherency with TiAl3 as epitaxial Al growth from the TiAl3 was found. The growth direction of Al is along <110> and has a random texture, whereas Zn has a rather strong ND//<0001> fiber texture.