Microstructure and High Temperature Oxidation of the Hot-Dipping Al-Si Coating on Low Carbon Steel in Ethanol, Water Vapor and Air at 700°C

Abstract

Low carbon steel was coated by hot-dipping into a molten Al-10%Si bath. The high-temperature oxidation was performed at 700oC for 1 h to 49 h in air, air +100% H2O, and air + 30% ethanol under atmospheric pressure. An elemental composition distribution, morphologies of the aluminide layer and the oxide scale were characterized by OM, XRD, and SEM/EDS. After hot-dipping treatment, the coating layers consisted of Al, Si, FeAl3, τ5-Fe2Al8Si, and Fe2Al5. The results of high temperature oxidation tests showed the oxidation rate were parabolic law in three different atmospheres. The polyhedral τ1-(Al,Si)5Fe3 formed at a short time oxidation completely transformed to FeAl2 and FeAl due to the composition gradient and the chemical diffusion. The effect of water vapor on the oxidation resistance of the Al-Si coating may be attributed to increase in Al and Fe ions transport, leading to loss of protective aluminide layer by formation of iron oxide nodules on the coating surface and at interface between aluminide layer and the steel substrate.