Stretch‐Flangeability of High Mn TWIP steel

The mechanical properties of austenitic high Mn Twinning Inducted Plasticity (TWIP) steel provide an excellent combination of strength and ductility when tested in uni‐axial tension. The performance of TWIP steel during some critical formability tests such as deep drawing, bulge test and cutting edge stretching has not yet been studied extensively. In this contribution, the stretch‐flangeability of Fe18Mn0.6C1.5Al TWIP steel and Ti Interstitial‐Free (IF) steel were studied by means of hole expansion test. In‐situ strain analysis and Infra‐red (IR) thermography were carried out during the test. It was found that TWIP steel, despite having a higher uniform elongation in uniaxial tension, had poorer hole expansion properties than Ti IF steel. Strain distribution analysis revealed that the hole edge deformed in a deep drawing mode which was similar to a tensile deformation. Away from the hole edge, the deformation mode changed gradually from deep drawing to stretch forming mode. The IR‐thermography of TWIP steel revealed a high degree of adiabatic heating which was absent in the case of IF steel. The crack associated with the edge fracture revealed a local temperature increase at the crack tip of up to 92°C. Two types of hole edge preparations were studied. A high quality hole edge finish resulted in a better hole expansion performance. The fractography of the crack plane surface of TWIP steel and Ti IF were also studied by SEM, and revealed a plastic failure mode in both cases.     

Multiscale Characterization of the Work Hardening Mechanisms in Fe–Mn Based TWIP Steels

When strained in tension, high‐manganese austenitic twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) steels achieve very high strength and elongation before necking. The main hypotheses available in the literature about the origin of their excellent work hardening include deformation twinning and dynamic strain ageing. In order to provide some answers, various experiments at different scales were conducted on Fe–Mn–C steels and the Fe–28 wt%Mn–3.5 wt%Al–2.8 wt%Si alloy. At a macroscopic scale, tensile tests were performed on all the studied grades. It was shown that, though the Fe–Mn–Al–Si based alloy retains very high elongation, the Fe–Mn–C steels properties are even more extraordinary. Tensile tests at different strain rates with the help of digital image correlation were also performed on the Fe–20 wt%Mn–1.2 wt%C steel to study the PLC effect occurring in this type of steel. It is suggested that supplementary hardening could come from reorientation of Mn–C pairs in the cores of the dislocations. At a microscopic scale, the Fe–20 wt%Mn–1.2 wt%C TWIP steel and the Fe–Mn–Al–Si grade were thoroughly investigated by means of in situ TEM analysis. In the Fe–Mn–C steel, the formed twins could also lead to a composite effect, since they contain plenty of sessile dislocations. In the Fe–Mn–Al–Si alloy, mechanical twins are thicker and contain fewer defects, leading to a lower work hardening than the other grade.     

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of High‐Strength Fe‐Mn‐Al‐C Light‐Weight TRIPLEX Steels

High‐strength TRIPLEX light‐weight steels of the generic composition Fe‐xMn‐yAl‐zC contain 18 ‐ 28 % manganese, 9 ‐ 12 % aluminium, and 0.7 ‐ 1.2 % C (in mass %). The microstructure is composed of an austenitic γ‐Fe(Mn, Al, C) solid solution matrix possessing a fine dispersion of nano size κ‐carbides (Fe,Mn)₃ AlC_1‐x and α‐Fe(Al, Mn) ferrite of varying volume fractions. The calculated Gibbs free energy of the phase transformation γ_fcc → ?_hcp amounts to ΔG^γ→? = 1757 J/mol and the stacking fault energy was determined to Γ_SF = 110 mJ/m². This indicates that the austenite is very stable and no strain induced ?‐martensite will be formed. Mechanical twinning is almost inhibited during plastic deformation. The TRIPLEX steels exhibit low density of 6.5 to 7 g/cm³ and superior mechanical properties, such as high strength of 700 to 1100 MPa and total elongations up to 60 % and more. The specific energy absorption achieved at high strain rates of 10³ s^?1 is about 0.43 J/mm³. TEM investigations revealed clearly that homogeneous shear band formation accompanied by dislocation glide occurred in deformed tensile samples. The dominant deformation mechanism of these steels is shear band induced plasticity ‐SIP effect‐ sustained by the uniform arrangement of nano size κ‐carbides coherent to the austenitic matrix. The high flow stresses and tensile strengths are caused by effective solid solution hardening and superimposed dispersion strengthening.     

Stress‐Temperature‐Transformation and Deformation‐Temperature‐Transformation Diagrams for an Austenitic CrMnNi as‐cast Steel

Stress‐Temperature‐Transformation (STT) and Deformation‐Temperature‐Transformation (DTT) diagrams are well‐suited to characterize the TRIP (transformation‐induced plasticity) and TWIP (twinning‐induced plasticity) effect in steels. The triggering stresses for the deformation‐induced microstructure transformation processes, the characteristic temperatures, the yield stress and the strength of the steel are plotted in the STT diagram as functions of temperature. The elongation values of the austenite, the strain‐induced twins and martensite formations are shown in the DTT diagram. The microstructure evolution of a novel austenitic Cr‐Mn‐Ni (16%Cr, 6% Mn, 6% Ni) as‐cast steel during deformation was investigated at various temperatures using static tensile tests, optical microscopy and the magnetic scale for the detection of ferromagnetic phase fraction. At the temperatures above 250 °C the steel only deforms by glide deformation of the austenite. Strain‐induced twinning replaces the glide deformation at temperatures below 250 °C with increasing strain. Below 100 °C, the strain‐induced martensite formation becomes more pronounced. The kinetics of the α'‐martensite formation is described according to stress and deformation temperatures. The STT and DTT diagrams, enhanced with the kinetics of the martensite formation, are presented in this paper.     

Temperature Dependent Deformation Mechanisms of a High Nitrogen‐Manganese Austenitic Stainless Steel

The influence of temperature on the deformation behaviour of a Fe‐16.5Cr‐8Mn‐3Ni‐2Si‐1Cu‐0.25N (wt%) austenitic stainless steel alloy was investigated using transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction measurements. Recrystallized samples were deformed under tension at ?75°C, 20°C, and 200°C and the microstructures were characterized after 5% strain and after testing to failure. Deformation to failure at ?75°C resulted in extensive transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) with over 90% α′‐martensite. The sample deformed to 5% strain at ?75°C shows that the austenite transformed first to ?‐martensite which served to nucleate the α′‐martensite. Transformation induced martensite prohibits localized necking providing total elongation to failure of over 70%. At room temperature, in addition to some TRIP behaviour, the majority of the deformation is accommodated by dislocation slip in the austenite. Some deformation induced twinning (TWIP) was also observed, although mechanical twinning provides only a small contribution to the total deformation at room temperature. Finally, dislocation slip is the dominant deformation mechanism at 200°C with a corresponding decrease in total elongation to failure. These changes in deformation behaviour are related to the temperature dependence on the relative stability of austenite and martensite as well as the changes in stacking fault energy (SFE) as a function of temperature.     

Fe?Mn?(Al)?C高强韧性钢氢脆微观机制的研究进展

随着汽车行业的快速发展,轻量化汽车用钢的研发和应用越来越广泛。抗拉强度超过1000 MPa的第二、三代汽车用钢往往是复相组织,通过固溶、析出、变形、细晶强化等各种强化方式,在基体中形成大量缺陷,导致钢材服役过程中对氢更加敏感,容易在很小的氢溶解条件下发生氢脆。Fe?Mn?C系、Fe?Mn?Al?C系等含Mn量高的汽车结构用钢因层错能较高,不仅直接决定了其强韧性机制,还对其服役性能有重要影响。在Fe?Mn?C系TWIP钢的成分基础上,添加少量Al元素,形成Fe?Mn?(Al)?C钢,不仅能降低钢材密度,提高钢材的强韧性,也因Al元素改变了钢材的微观组织构成,一定程度上令氢脆得到缓解。但当Al含量较高时,形成低密度钢,其组织构成更加复杂,析出物更多,导致氢脆敏感性更显著。本文从Fe?Mn?(Al)?C高强韧性钢的组织构成、第二相、晶体缺陷等特征出发,综述了H在Fe?Mn?(Al)?C钢中的渗透、溶解和扩散行为,H与基体组织、析出相、晶格缺陷的交互作用,H在钢中的作用模型、氢脆机制、氢脆评价手段和方法等。并评述了Fe?Mn?(Al)?C高强韧性钢氢脆问题开展的相关研究工作和最新发展动态,指出通过第一性原理计算、分子动力学模拟和借助氢原子微印技术、三维原子探针等物理实验相结合的方法是从微观层面揭示高强韧性钢氢脆机制的未来发展方向。      

Selective Oxidation of TWIP Steel During Continuous Annealing

The selective oxidation of Al‐free and Al‐added TWIP steel after full austenitic annealing at 800°C in a N₂ + 10%H₂ gas atmosphere with a dew point of ?17°C was investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy. A thick MnO layer was formed at the surface of Al‐free TWIP steel after the recrystallization annealing. Small crystalline c‐xMnO · SiO₂ (x > 2) particles and amorphous a‐xMnO · SiO₂ (x < 0.9) particles were found at the MnO/steel interface. In the subsurface, the Mn depletion resulted in the formation of a narrow ferrite layer. The annealing of the Al‐added TWIP steel also resulted in the formation of a thick MnO surface layer. At the MnO/steel interface, Kirkendall voids were formed between the amorphous a‐xMnO · SiO₂ (x < 0.9) oxide and crystalline c‐xMnO · Al₂O₃ oxide in the case of Al‐added TWIP steel. In the subsurface, a thin layer was depleted of Mn and the original austenite had transformed into ferrite. Internal oxidation of Al to Al₂O₃ and the formation of crystalline c‐xMnO · Al₂O₃ (x > 1) compound oxide particles were found to occur at the grain boundaries of the Mn‐depleted ferritic zone. The present contribution highlights the implications of the selective oxidation of TWIP steels for their processing in continuous annealing and continuous hot dip galvanizing lines.     

Fe?Mn?Al?C系中锰钢的研究现状与发展前景

随着汽车保有量的提高,能源消耗和环境问题对汽车用钢提出了轻量化的要求。目前正在发展的第三代汽车用钢的研究思路是将加入轻量元素以“轻”和增强增塑以“薄”相结合。Fe?Mn?Al?C系中锰钢作为第三代汽车用钢的主要组成部分,是当今的研究热点之一。本文总结了近些年国内外Fe?Mn?Al?C系中锰钢的研究文献,从生产成本、力学性能等方面介绍了Fe?Mn?Al?C系中锰钢的优势。从成分设计、工艺设计、组织特征、变形及断裂机制等多个方面出发,对文献进行分析,总结出了合金成分、工艺路线和组织特征对性能的影响规律。阐述了奥氏体层错能及其稳定性对中锰钢变形机制,尤其是相变诱导塑性（TRIP效应）的影响规律。最后对目前Fe?Mn?Al?C系中锰钢研究过程中存在的争议问题进行了总结,展望了未来的发展趋势,以期为中锰钢的后续研究和实际生产提供参考。      

Effect of Strain and Strain Path on Texture and Twin Development in Austenitic Steel with Twinning-Induced Plasticity

High-manganese (15 to 30 wt pct) austenitic steels exhibit extreme strain hardening because of twinning with increased strain. Twinning in these low stacking fault materials promotes retention of the austenitic microstructure and impedes dislocation motion. A dearth of information is available concerning the extent to which strain path influences twinning in so-called twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steels. The present study focuses on the influence of strain level and strain path on texture and twinning in a high-Mn content TWIP steel (Fe17.2Mn0.6C). Electron back-scatter diffraction was employed to measure the twin fraction, twin deviation, twin boundary length, grain misorientation, and volume fraction of different texture components as a function of both uniaxial and biaxial deformation. This information, which is part of the necessary first step toward linking crystallographic texture and twinning to mechanical properties, was used to quantitatively assess the extent to which these critical metallurgical features depend on the amount of straining and the strain path.     

Structure and mechanical properties of tempered martensite and lower bainite in Fe−Ni−Mn−C steels

The structure and mechanical properties of tempered martensite and lower bainite were investigated in a series of high purity 0.25 pct C steels with varying amounts of nickel and manganese. The martensites in 0.25 C-5 Ni?Fe and 0.25 C-3 Mn?Fe alloys were mainly untwinned, while those in 0.25 C-5 Ni-7 Mn?Fe and 0.25 C-7 Mn?Fe alloys were heavily twinned. Manganese appears to promote carbide precipitation along the lath boundaries in tempered martensite. At equivalent yield and ultimate tensile strength levels, the tempered martensite of lower manganese steels showed better impact toughness than the tempered martensite of higher manganese steels. The impact toughness (compared at similar strength levels) of untwinned tempered martensite of 0.25 pct C steel with Widmanstatten precipitation of carbide was higher than that of lower bainite, which showed unidirectional carbides. The reasons for the difference in impact toughness between the alloys, and also between the structures are rationalized in terms of internal twinning, grain boundary precipitation and carbide morphology together with other microstructural features.     

STT and DTT Diagrams of Austenitic Cr–Mn–Ni As‐Cast Steels and Crucial Thermodynamic Aspects of γ → α′ Transformation

The mechanical behavior and microstructure evolution during deformation of novel austenitic Cr–Mn–Ni as‐cast steels with varied Ni content were investigated at various temperatures using static tensile tests, optical microscopy, and the magnetic scale for the detection of ferromagnetic phase fraction. To summarize all knowledge about the deformation‐induced processes, the STT and DTT diagrams were developed for Cr–Mn–Ni steels. The diagrams illustrate the different deformation mechanisms depending on temperature and tension load, and quantify the elongation of the deformation mechanisms. The deformation‐induced ε‐ and α' martensite formation and twinning – the TRIP and TWIP effects – occur in the Cr–Mn–Ni steels depending on the chemical composition and temperature. The differences of deformation‐induced processes depend on thermodynamics and are confirmed by thermodynamic calculations. The nucleation threshold of γ → α′ transformation was determined for the investigated Cr–Mn–Ni steels.     

Structure and mechanical and corrosion properties of new high-nitrogen Cr-Mn steels containing molybdenum

The structure, mechanical properties, and pitting corrosion of nickel-free high-nitrogen (0.8% N) austenitic 06Kh18AG19M2 and 07Kh16AG13M3 steels have been studied in various structural states obtained after hot deformation, quenching, and tempering at 300 and 500°C. Both steels are shown to be resistant to the ?? ?? ?? and ?? ?? ? martensite transformations irrespective of the decomposition of a ?? solid solution (06Kh18AG19M2 steel). Austenite of the steel with 19 wt % Mn shows lower resistance to recrystallization, which provides its higher plasticity (??₅) and fracture toughness at a lower strength as compared to the steel with 13 wt % Mn. Electrochemical studies of the steels tempered at 300 and 500°C show that they are in a stable passive state during tests in a 3.5% NaCl solution and have high pitting resistance up to a potential E _pf = 1.3?C1.4 V, which is higher than that in 12Kh18N10T steel. In the quenched state, the passive state is instable but pitting formation potentials E _pf retain their values. In all steels under study, pitting is shown to form predominantly along the grain boundaries of nonrecrystallized austenite. The lowest pitting resistance is demonstrated by the structure with a double grain boundary network that results from incomplete recrystallization at 1100°C and from the existence of initial and recrystallized austenite in the 07Kh16AG13M3 steel. To obtain a set of high mechanical and corrosion properties under given rolling conditions (1200?C1150°C), annealing of the steels at temperatures no less than 1150°C (for 1 h) with water quenching and tempering at 500°C for 2 h are recommended.     

Fatigue Behavior of Dual‐Phase and TWIP Steels for Lightweight Automotive Structures

Car bodies are increasingly made with high‐strength steels, for both lightweighting and safety purposes. Steel sheets, made by continuous casting, hot rolling, cold rolling, and continuous heat treating, are used to deep draw the car body parts, which are then joined by resistance spot welding (RSW). Two high‐strength automotive steels, with similar tensile strength, are studied here. The low alloy, dual‐phase steel consist of ferrite and martensite, obtained by an intercritical heat treatment, followed by fast cooling. The innovative, high‐Mn TWIP steel exhibits a promising combination of strength and toughness, arising from the austenitic structure, strengthened by C, and from the twinning induced plasticity effect. Tensile specimens are fatigue tested at room temperature with zero load ratio, both in the as‐fabricated (unnotched) condition and after the RSW of an homologous sheet square. Moreover, pre‐cracked compact tension specimens are tested with load ratio 0.1 to determine the fatigue crack growth behavior. These results are completed with crystallographic, microstructural, tensile, and fractographic examinations, and the influence of the microstructure and of the welding process is discussed.     

Application of a Dislocation Density-Based Constitutive Model to Al-Alloyed TWIP Steel

High Mn steels exhibit an exceptional combination of high strength and large ductility owing to their high strain-hardening rate during deformation. The addition of Al is needed to improve the mechanical performance of TWIP steel by means of the control of the stacking fault energy. In this study, a constitutive modeling approach, which can describe the strain-hardening behavior and the effect of Al on the mechanical properties, was used. In order to understand the deformation behavior of Fe18Mn0.6C and Fe18Mn0.6C1.5Al TWIP steels, a comparative study of the microstructural evolution was conducted by means of transmission electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. The microstructure analysis focused on dislocations, stacking faults, and mechanical twins as these are the defects controlling the strain-hardening behavior of TWIP steels. A comparison of the strain-hardening behavior of Fe18Mn0.6C and Fe18Mn0.6C1.5Al TWIP steels was made in terms of a dislocation density-based constitutive model that goes back to the Kubin–Estrin model. The densities of mobile and forest dislocations are coupled in order to account for the interaction between the two dislocation populations during straining. The model was used to estimate the contribution of dynamic strain aging to the flow stress. As deformation twinning occurred only in a subset of the grains, the grain population was subdivided into twinned grains and twin-free grains. Different constitutive equations were used for the two families of grains. The analysis revealed that (i) the grain size and dynamic recovery effects determine the strain-hardening behavior of the twin-free grains, (ii) the deformation twins, which act as effective barriers to dislocation motion, are the predominant elements of the microstructure that governs the strain hardening of the twinned grains, and (iii) the DSA contribution to strain hardening of TWIP steel is only minor.     

Evaluation of the electrical resistivity of steels

Literature data on the physical properties of steels have been collected and put into a database. The resistivity of steels has been analyzed as a function of composition and microstructure. An overview over former studies is given. The steels have been investigated in two groups, ferritic steels and austenitic steels. A thermodynamic analysis with ThermoCalc has been performed. Regression analysis on the influence of composition on the resistivity was then carried out. The results for ferritic steels are: Si and Al have the highest elemental resistivity, followed by Mn, Cu, Ni, Mo, and Cr. C precipitated in cementite shows a high coefficient in the analysis when the amount of Fe bound in cementite is not considered separately. C in solution with ferrite shows no significant effect. Cr bound in cementite shows a significant effect but Mn, though present in cementite in comparable amounts, has no significant effect on the resistivity. N and C have the highest elemental resistivity in austenite, followed by the substitutional solutes Nb, Si, Ti, Cu, Ni, Mo, and Cr. The carbides NbC and TiC appear with a higher coefficient in the regression model than can be explained by phase‐mixture models providing upper and lower bounds for the resistivity of two‐phase alloys. Cr₂₃C₆ shows no significant effect. The regression results can be used to predict the resistivity of steels with known composition. The model predicts the resistivity of ferritic steels with a maximum deviation between experimental and computed value of 12 nōm and a standard deviation of 5.6 nōm. For austenitic steels, the model prediction shows a maximum deviation of 52 μōcm and a standard deviation of 20 nōm.     

Deformation Induced Martensite Formation and its Effect on Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP)

The knowledge of the stress‐ and deformation‐induced martensite formation in metastable austenitic steels including the formation temperatures and amounts formed is of considerable importance for the understanding of the transformation induced plasticity. For this purpose a stress‐temperature‐transformation (STT) and a deformation‐temperature‐transformation (DTT) diagram have been developed for the steel X5CrNi 18 10 (1.4301, AISI 304). It is shown that the M_d‐temperature for γ→?, ?→α', γ→?→α’ and γ→α’ martensite formation is defined by two stress‐temperature curves which show a different temperature dependence. They specify the beginning and the end of the deformation‐induced martensite formation in the range of uniform elongation. The intersection point defines the corresponding M_d‐temperature. The stress difference which results from the stresses for the end and the beginning of the martensite formation shows positive values below the M_d‐temperature. It defines the amount of martensite being formed. When the M_d^γ→? temperature is reached and the formation of the first deformation‐induced amount of ?‐martensite appears, an anomalous temperature dependence of the maximum uniform elongation starts. The highest values of the maximum uniform elongation are registered for the tested steel in the immediate vicinity of the M_d^γ→α' or the M_d^γ→?→α' temperature ‐ similar as in other metastable austenitic CrNi steels. At this temperature the highest amount of deformation‐induced ?‐phase exists. The transformation plasticity in the test steel is considerably caused by the deformation‐induced ? and α’ martensite formation. Using the new evaluation method, the increase of plasticity ΔA (TRIP‐effect) and strength ΔR can be quantified.     

Effect of Primary Factor on Cavitation Resistance of Some Austenitic Metals

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Effects of Inclusions on Delayed Fracture Properties of Three TWinning Induced Plasticity (TWIP) Steels

In the present study, delayed fracture properties of a high-Mn TWinning Induced Plasticity (TWIP) steel and two Al-added TWIP steels were examined by dipping tests of cup specimens in the boiled water, after which the microcrack formation behavior was analyzed. The TWIP steels contained a small amount of elongated MnS inclusions, spherical-shaped AlN particles, and submicron-sized (Fe,Mn)₃C carbides. Since MnS inclusions worked as crack initiation sites, longitudinal cracks were formed along the cup forming direction mostly by MnS inclusions. These cracks were readily grown when high tensile residual stresses affected the cracking or hydrogen atoms were gathered inside cracks, which resulted in the delayed fracture. In the Al-added steels, MnS inclusions acted as crack initiation and propagation sites during cup forming or boiled-water dipping test, but residual stresses applied to MnS might be low for the crack initiation and growth. Thus, longitudinal cracks formed by MnS inclusions did not work much for delayed fracture. AlN particles present in the Al-added steels hardly acted as crack initiation or growth sites for the delayed fracture because of their spherical shape.     

Cold Work Hardening of High‐Strength Austenitic Steels

Mechanisms of cold work hardening in three austenitic steels containing (mass%) 12Mn and 1.2C (Hadfield steel denoted as C1.2); 21Cr, 23Mn, 2Ni and 0.9N (Böhler steel P‐560 denoted as N0.9); 18Cr, 18Mn, 0.345C, 0.615N (CARNIT steel denoted as CN0.96) were studied using mechanical tension tests and TEM studies of substructure formed in the course of plastic deformation. Hadfield steel C1.2 reveals the smallest yield and ultimate stresses and elongation but the highest cold work hardening. Similar yield and ultimate stresses were obtained for steels N0.9 and CN0.96 with a higher elongation and cold work hardening for the latter. The analysis of TEM results leads to the following conclusions: Cold work hardening of the carbon steel C1.2 is mainly due to intensive twinning with rather thick twins. Localized planar slip is a feature of the substructure in the nitrogen steel N0.9 and carbon+nitrogen steel CN0.96 at strains up to 10 %, whereas twinning is involved in deformation at strains in the range of 10 to 50%. The strain‐induced ∊ martensite is rarely observed in both of these steels at strains above 30 %. The substructure and cold work hardening are discussed in terms of stacking fault energy, short‐range atomic order and binding between interstitial atoms and dislocations.     

The Development of a Processing Window for the Continuous Galvanizing of a Mn–Cr–Si Martensitic Steel

Martensitic or complex phase steels are leading candidates for automotive impact management applications. However, achieving high strengths while obtaining high quality coatings via continuous galvanizing is a challenge due to cooling rate limitations of the processing equipment and selective oxidation of alloying elements such as Cr, Mn, and Si adversely affecting reactive wetting. The galvanizability of a Cr? Mn? Si steel with a target tensile strength above 1250 MPa was investigated within the context of the continuous galvanizing line. The continuous cooling transformation behavior of the candidate alloy was determined, from which intercritical and austenitic annealing thermal cycles were developed. The evolution of substrate surface chemistry and oxide morphology during these treatments and their subsequent effect on reactive wetting during galvanizing were characterized. The target strength of 1250 MPa was achieved and high quality coatings produced using both intercritical (75% γ) and austenitic (100% γ) annealing using a conventional 95%N₂–5%H₂, ?30°C dew point process atmosphere and 0.20 wt% dissolved (effective) Al bath, despite the presence of significant Mn and Cr oxides on the substrate surfaces. It is proposed that complete reactive wetting by the Zn(Al, Fe) bath was promoted by in situ aluminothermic reduction of the Mn and Cr‐oxides by the dissolved bath Al.