In our previous works it was found that a high C (
ca. 0.2%)-low P steel shows an excellent corrosion resistance against pure molten zinc. In this paper a study was carried out on its corrosion behavior in liquid zinc containing 0.15-0.30% aluminum at 440-480°C in comparison with a low C steel. The creep rupture strength of the steels in pure molten zinc at 500°C was measured to evaluate the resistance against deformation due to the gravity of zinc fluid in practical galvanizing pots. After 24hr immersion Γ, δ
1c, δ
1p and ξ alloys were found to form on the surface of all specimens tested under various conditions in accordance with the ternary iron-zinc-aluminum phase diagram. The presence of aluminum accelerates the attack of steel by molten zinc by preventing ξ alloy from forming a continuous protective film. Precipitated carbides assisted a non-porous surface layer of δ
1p alloy in growing thick, and the corrosion of 0.19 C-low P steel was less than that of low C steel. Alloying elements such as C, Mn, Mo, and V, which are known to improve the creep strength in air, also increased the creep strength in molten zinc. Zinc attacks steels not only in the form of uniform corrosion but also in the form of grain boundary corrosion decreasing the effective cross section of steel construction. Consequently, when the same tensile stress is applied, the creep rupture time of steel is shorter in zinc than in air. Zinc permeates deeper into low C steel than into high C steel. All these factors cause the high C steel to possess a higher creep rupture strength than the low C steel. From the observations mentioned above it may be concluded that the high C (
ca. 0.2%)-low P steel is one of the most suitable materials which can be used for hot dip galvanizing pots.
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