To study the interdiffusion between solid iron and liquid zinc, high purity iron test pieces were immersed into a high-purity zinc bath of 713–873 K . The thickness and the growth rate of alloy layers on the iron surface, and the quantity of iron reacted with zinc were measured.
A Γ phase was formed next to the iron, followed by a δ
1K phase. Up to 763 K, a δ
1P phase and a ζ phase were formed next to the δ
1K phase. The ζ phase thinned with immersion time, and disappeared at 763 K. The growth rate of the δ
1 phase was higher than that of the ζ phase. Over the temperature range between 773 and 833 K, a (δ
1+η) mixture phase was formed next to the δ
1 phase and dropped off into the bath. Above 833 K, the δ
1K phase formed on the surface of the alloy layers dropped off into the bath. Its thickness remained at about 10 μm. The total thickness of the alloy layers had a peak at about 793 K.
Up to 1200 s, the iron weight loss had a peak at 793 K, but for 3000 and 6000 s immersions it had a peak at 773 K . Above 813 K, it was greater than those of other investigations. The quantity of iron remained in the alloy layers had a peak at about 793 K, corresponding to the fact that the total thickness of the alloy layers had a peak at the same temperature; its peak value remained constant for a immersion time longer than 1200 s. The quantity of iron dissolved into the zinc bath had a peak at 773 K for a immersion time longer than 3000 s.
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