A high-strength interstitial-free (HS IF) steel, solution strengthened with P and Mn, was hot-dip galvanized and galvannealed in a laboratory hot-dip simulator. The dew point of the N 2 -H 2 annealing atmosphere during recrystallization was varied, and the effect of the dew-point changes on the galvannealing kinetics was studied. Annealing in a high-dew-point N 2 -H 2 atmosphere improved the wettability by the zinc and the galvannealing reactivity of the Mn-P-added IF steels considerably. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) depth profiles of the surface of the steel sheet and the subsurface region revealed clear differences in oxidation mode after recrystallization annealing. Plane-view SEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses were done on the inhibition layer of the as-galvanized samples. Differences in the Mn and P contents were found. By analyzing the Mn and P contents in the coatings during galvannealing, a mechanism was proposed to explain the higher galvannealing reactivity which is observed when the dew point during recrystallization annealing is increased.

Phosphorus, Mn, or Si solid solution strengthened sheet steels stabilised with Ti and Nb are known to have poor galvanising and galvannealing properties. When these steels are continuously annealed in higher dewpoint atmospheres, selective oxidation processes can occur in the subsurface region of the sheet. A laboratory simulated continuous galvannealing process was therefore used to study this effect in P and PzMn solid solution strengthened sheet steels stabilised with Ti and Nb, by making a detailed analysis of the fundamental surface and interface processes that control the wetting of the surface by the liquid Zn, the inhibition layer formation, and the Fe -Zn reaction.MST/4917

Solid solution strengthened steels stabilised with Ti and Nb are known to have poor galvanising and galvannealing properties. When these steels are alloyed with boron to prevent cold work embrittlement, the selective oxidation processes are influenced by the presence of B. The continuous galvannealing process has therefore been simulated in a laboratory in order to study the effect of B on the fundamental surface and interface processes that control the wetting of the surface by liquid Zn, the inhibition layer formation, and the Fe -Zn reaction.MST/4918

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