High temperature corrosion of hot-dip aluminized steel in Ar/1%SO₂ gas

Abstract

Carbon steels were hot-dip aluminized in Al or Al-1at%Si baths, and corroded in Ar/1%SO₂ gas at 700-800 °C for up to 50 h. The aluminized layers consisted of not only an outer Al(Fe) topcoat that had interdispersed needle-like Al₃Fe particles but also an inner Al-Fe alloy layer that consisted of an outer Al₃Fe layer and an inner Al₅Fe₂ layer. The Si addition in the bath made the Al(Fe) topcoat thin and nonuniform, smoothened the tongue-like interface between the Al-Fe alloy layer and the substrate, and increased the microhardness of the aluminized layer. The aluminized steels exhibited good corrosion resistance by forming thin α-Al₂O₃ scales, along with a minor amount of iron oxides on the surface. The interdiffusion that occurred during heating made the aluminized layer thick and diffuse, resulting in the formation of Al₅Fe₂, AlFe and AlFe₃ layers. It also smoothened the tongue-like interface, and decreased the microhardness of the aluminized layer. The non-aluminized steel formed thick, nonadherent, nonprotective (Fe₃O₄, FeS)-mixed scales.