Effects of Si Solid Solution in Fe Substrate on the Alloying Reaction between Fe Substrate and Liquid Zn

Abstract

Effects of Si solid solution in Fe substrate on the formation of Fe-Zn intermetallic layers between the Fe(-Si) substrate and liquid Zn were investigated using a combinatorial technique. The formation of ζ-FeZn₁₃ layer was promoted by Si solid solution upto 2 at.% in the Fe substrate but retarded by further Si solid solution. The formation of δ₁-FeZn_7-10 phase and Γ-Fe₃Zn₁₀ phase was retarded by Si solid solution upto 10 at.%. The investigations on the rate of Fe dissolution from the Fe substrate to the Zn liquid, the Fe and Si contents in the δ₁ phase suggest that the retardation of the Fe-Zn intermetallic layer formation by Si solid solution in the Fe substrate is caused by the difficulty in the nucleation of δ₁ phase in the lower Si contents less than 3 at.% and by the decrease in the rate of Fe dissolution to the Zn liquid in the higher Si contents.