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Nanoscale analysis of surface oxides on ZnMgAl hot-dip-coated steel sheets

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Abstract

In this work, the first few nanometres of the surface of ZnMgAl hot-dip-galvanised steel sheets were analysed by scanning Auger electron spectroscopy, angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Although the ZnMgAl coating itself is exhibiting a complex micro-structure composed of several different phases, it is shown that the topmost surface is covered by a smooth, homogeneous oxide layer consisting of a mixture of magnesium oxide and aluminium oxide, exhibiting a higher amount of magnesium than aluminium and a total film thickness of 4.5 to 5 nm. Especially by the combined analytical approach of surface-sensitive methods, it is directly demonstrated for the first time that within surface imprints—created by industrial skin rolling of the steel sheet which ensures a smooth surface appearance as well as reduced yield-point phenomenon—the original, smooth oxide layer is partly removed and that a layer of native oxides, exactly corresponding to the chemical structure of the underlying metal phases, is formed.

The picture shows an overlay of the topography in a skin pass imprint of a hot-dip-galvanized ZnMgAl-coated steel sheet taken by an AFM scan and the chemical composition on the same area taken by AES mapping (Zn red, Mg green and Al blue). The smooth blue green area in the middle is a still remaining part of the originally present MgAl oxide layer whereas the surrounding area shows the metals Zn, Mg and Al

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Acknowledgements

The financial support by the Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth and the National Foundation for Research, Technology and Development is gratefully acknowledged (Christian Doppler Laboratory for Microscopic and Spectroscopic Material Characterisation, CDL-MS-MACH), as well as the financial support by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (ZnMg hot-dip galvanized steel strip and processing and Bridge Project “Surface and interface analytics for steel composites”).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zentrum für Oberflächen- und Nanoanalytik (ZONA) und Christian Doppler Labor für mikroskopische und spektroskopische Materialcharakterisierung (CDL-MS-MACH), Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Altenbergerstraße 69, 4040, Linz, Austria

    M. Arndt, J. Duchoslav, H. Itani, G. Hesser, D. Stifter & K. Hingerl

  2. voestalpine Stahl GmbH, voestalpine-Straße 3, 4031, Linz, Austria

    C. K. Riener, G. Angeli & K. Preis

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  1. M. Arndt
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  2. J. Duchoslav
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  3. H. Itani
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  4. G. Hesser
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  5. C. K. Riener
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  6. G. Angeli
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  7. K. Preis
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  8. D. Stifter
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  9. K. Hingerl
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Correspondence to M. Arndt.

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Published in the special paper collection on Solid State Analysis (FKA 16) with guest editor G. Friedbacher.

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Arndt, M., Duchoslav, J., Itani, H. et al. Nanoscale analysis of surface oxides on ZnMgAl hot-dip-coated steel sheets. Anal Bioanal Chem 403, 651–661 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5507-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5507-0

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