Effect of Annealing Temperature on the Selective Oxidation and Reactive Wetting of a 0.1C-6Mn-2Si Advanced High Strength Steel During Continuous Galvanizing Heat Treatments

Abstract

The effects of peak annealing temperature and annealing time on the selective oxidation and reactive wetting of a prototype medium-Mn Fe-0.1C-6Mn-2Si third generation advanced high strength steel were investigated. Annealing heat treatments were carried out in a N₂-5 vol% H₂ 243 K (-30°C) dew point process atmosphere at 963 K (690°C) and 1073 K (800°C) for 120 s and 600 s. TEM observations of the sample cross-sections revealed internal oxidation of the subsurface grains and grain boundaries. EELS results showed that the internal oxide network had a multi-layered structure with SiO₂ at the oxide core and MnSiO₃ as the surrounding shell; however, MnO was the only species detected at the surface of all samples. The effect of annealing temperature on the surface structure development and its impact on reactive wetting of the substrates annealed for 120 s at both peak annealing temperatures by a Zn-0.20 wt% Al (dissolved) galvanizing bath was also determined. In contrast to the 1073 K steel, the 963 K substrate showed superior reactive wetting, owing to the much thinner, finer and wider spacing of the MnO nodules on the pre-immersion surface. TEM+EELS analysis of the coated steels showed that infiltration of the bath alloy and partial reduction of MnO resulted in lift-off of the surface oxides and partial formation of Fe₂Al₅Zn_X interfacial layer, indicating that reactive wetting had occurred for the 963 K × 120 s substrate.