Prediction of aluminium concentration in molten zinc pot of continuous hot dip galvanising line

Abstract

The strict control of aluminium concentration in a galvanising pot is extremely important to meet the high surface quality of galvanised steels that has been demanded by the industry. The present study proposes a mathematical model for the prediction of aluminium concentration in a galvanising pot of a continuous hot dip galvanising line. It is assumed that aluminium in the molten zinc pot is consumed as coating layer, dross, and inhibition layer. The quantities of aluminium consumed as dross and inhibition layer in the molten zinc pot are evaluated using the results of physical model experiments available in the literature. The operation conditions of the continuous hot dip galvanising line are online collected and then used as input data for the model. It is found that dross is a main source of the preferential consumption of aluminium in the molten zinc pot. The predicted pot aluminium concentration follows the trend of experimentally measured values rather well during both galvanising and galvannealing operations.     

热镀锌液中锌渣的电磁分离

 锌液中的锌渣是影响热镀锌钢板表面质量的重要因素。从电磁净化理论分析和电磁分离实验研究两个角度出发,对解决热镀锌液中锌渣的去除进行了探讨。结果表明,在磁场频率175 kHz、磁感应强度均方根值005 T时,电磁作用10 s,可有效去除粒度大于10 μm的锌渣;通过对锌液的连续净化处理,粒度小于15 μm的锌渣去除效率可达到825%。     

Simulation of special flow affecting dross formation on steel strip in galvanising bath

The zinc flow in a galvanising bath is numerically simulated for three cases, and the flow field is analysed using three-dimensional views. It is found that the flow near the zinc surface directs from the strip to the ingot side when inductors are equipped and whether ingots are melting or not, and the flow direction is opposite to that near the zinc surface for the case without inductor and ingot, which does not exist during the bath operation process. Whirlpools are found to be formed between the snout and the bath side walls, which will increase the chance of dross particles touching the strip surface. Some effective measures are proposed to stop more dross from adhering to strip. This work will lay foundation for the optimisation of the galvanising process to improve the coating quality of steel strip.     

Coating microstructure development during Zinquench galvanising of sheet steel

Abstract

The influence of an elevated strip entry temperature on the kinetics of the galvanising reaction has been investigated for a titanium stabilised, interstitial free steel. Elevated strip entry temperatures (>550°C) have been shown to accelerate greatly alloying between the substrate and the molten zinc, increasing the growth rate of the δ phase from 1 to ～7 μm s^-1 and preventing the formation of the ζ phase. The substantial Fe–Zn phase layer seen at the coating/substrate interface at high strip entry temperatures (>550°C) is attributed to the dissolution of iron from the substrate into the molten zinc in the first second of immersion, and the limited inhibition provided by the bath aluminium content (<0·15 wt-%effective).     

Metallurgical characterisation of wrinkle bands and their influence on properties of galvanised steel sheet

Abstract

In addition to several well known defects in hot dip galvanised products, there are other defects that, although less frequent, damage the quality of the coated steel sheet. One of these, wrinkle bands, were microstructurally characterised, and their influence on corrosion behaviour of coated sheet was evaluated. Surface characteristics and microstructural features were examined by scanning electron microscopy, microanalysis and glow discharge optical spectroscopy. The results indicated that the major cause of wrinkle bands is related to craters that originated from cold rolling that act as a pool for molten zinc during galvanising. Corrosion resistance was examined via a salt spray test, and the time to red rust formation was up to 72 h shorter on wrinkle bands as compared to other regions.     

工业生产条件下连续热镀锌锅中锌渣扩散的数值模拟

基于欧拉-拉格朗日方法的离散相模型,针对锌液体外循环系统下连续热镀锌锅中三种不同类型的锌渣,利用数值模拟的方法计算锌锅中锌渣的浓度差分布.分析锌渣扩散得到了锌渣在带钢表面及锌锅中的运动轨迹和分布规律.结果表明:锌渣在带钢上的沉积率随着锌渣粒度的减小而升高;由于锌渣密度的差异,当锌渣直径小于80μm时,沉积率从高到低依次为悬浮渣、面渣和底渣.面渣在带钢出口后侧区域的平均停留时间最长,在该位置设置抽锌管将有利于面渣的去除;在V形区内侧区域带钢上的悬浮渣质量浓度最高,对带钢影响最大;底渣主要运动区域为锌锅底部,基本不会黏附于带钢表面,对带钢质量影响最小.      

Optimising annealing process on hot dip galvanising line based on robust predictive models adjusted with genetic algorithms

Abstract

This paper describes the process for optimising the annealing cycle on a hot dip galvanising line based on a combination of the techniques of artificial intelligence and genetic algorithms for creating two types of regression models. The first model can predict the furnace operating temperature for each coil and is trained to learn from the experience of the plant operators when the process has been correctly adjusted in ‘manual mode’ and from the control system when it has been properly operated in ‘automatic mode’. Once the scheduling has been optimised, and using the two predictive models, a computer simulation is made of the galvanising process in order to optimise the target settings when there are sudden transitions in the steel strip. This substantially improves the thermal treatment, as these sudden transitions may occur when there are two welded coils differing in size and type of steel, whereby a drastic change in strip specifications leads to irregular thermal treatments that may affect the steel’s coating or properties in that part of the coil.     

热浸镀55％Al-Zn镀液中底渣的分析与计算

检测了热浸镀55%Al-Zn镀液的成分和底渣中物相组成,并根据Al-Zn-Si-Fe热力学相图分析了温度对底渣的影响。XRD结果显示,底渣中主要渣相为FeAl3相,另外还含有少量的Al11V;SEM和EDS的结果也证明底渣中主要渣相为FeAl3,并且检测到少量Al-Zn-V-Ce四元金属间化合物。热力学相图分析浸镀温度对Fe在镀液中饱和溶解度的影响表明,随着温度升高,Fe的溶解度也随之增加。当镀液中Fe含量超过该温度下的饱和溶解度时,就以FeAl3的形式从镀液中析出成为底渣。     

Selective Oxidation and Surface Segregation in High Strength Steels during Short Term Annealing in H2‐N2 ‐ Influence of B on Surface Chemistry

In order to achieve appropriate mechanical properties, new high strength steels aimed for the car industry have to be alloyed with solution strengthening elements. The annealing treatment undergone on cold rolled sheets induces the selective oxidation of alloying elements such as Al, Mn, Si and Cr. The formed oxides exhibit a poor wetting by the Zn bath during hot dip galvanising, thus deteriorating the properties of the zinc coating. While surface‐segregating elements get oxidised, they interact with each other through the formation of spinels and/or mixed oxides during annealing and oxides which have a deleterious effect on wetting can be formed. The formation of (Mn, B) oxide was observed on alloys containing even very small amounts of B and this oxide is almost not wetted at all by Zn. Boron is added to interstitial‐free steels to improve the cold work embrittlement, by replacing phosphorus at the grain boundaries. In this paper, the selective oxidation of steels with and without B, in 5 vol. % H₂‐N₂ atmosphere at 820°C and different dew points was investigated. We found a very strong effect of segregation and oxidation of B on Si and S segregation and oxidation behaviour.     

Effect of alloying by transitional refractory metals on the microstructure and thermal stability of Al–5Zn–3Mg alloys

Abstract

The effect of additions of transitional refractory metals on the structure and properties of Al–Zn–Mg alloys, made by ingot and PM routes, was investigated. The strength of the ingot alloys especially is increased by scandium and zirconium. The modifying action of scandium inhibits recrystallisation and precipitation of the fine-grained coherent Al₃(Sc_1–xZr_x) phase. The effect is weaker in PM alloys where the ultra-high cooling rate during high pressure water atomisation produces the fine-grained structure. PM semi-products of the base composition Al–5Zn–3Mg and alloys without scandium are not recrystallised during heating to 500°C, whereas cast alloys of similar composition recrystallised on the hot extrusion stage at 400–450°C. Of the Sc alloys, Al–5Zn–3Mg–0·5Mn–0·7Zr–0·3Sc showed the highest strength (UTS?=?651 MPa, YS?=?596 MPa), whereas of the PM alloys without scandium Al–5Zn–3Mg–0·85Zr–0·22Cr–0·17Ni–0·15Ti alloy showed UTS?=?618 MPa and YS?=?553 MPa. At melt cooling rates of 10⁵–10⁶ K s^–1 the total content of transitional refractory metals must not exceed 1·5–1·7 wt-% and total content (Zn+Mg) should be <8 wt-% at a Zn/Mg ratio of 5:3.     

On hot deformation of aluminium–silicon powder metallurgy alloys

Abstract

The growing field of aluminium powder metallurgy (PM) brings promise to an economical and environmental demand for the production of high strength, light weight aluminium engine components. In an effort to further enhance the mechanical properties of these alloys, the effects of hot upset forging sintered compacts were studied. This article details findings on the hot compression response of these alloys, modelling of this flow behaviour, and its effects on final density and microstructure. Two aluminium–silicon based PM alloys were used for comparison. One alloy was a hypereutectic blend known as Alumix-231 (Al–15Si–2·5Cu–0·5Mg) and the second was an experimental hypoeutectic system (Al–6Si–4·5Cu–0·5Mg). Using a Gleeble 1500D thermomechanical simulator, sintered cylinders of the alloys were upset forged at various temperatures and strain rates, and the resulting stress–strain trends were studied. The constitutive equations of hot deformation were used to model peak flow stresses for each alloy when forged between 360 and 480°C, using strain rates of 0·005–5·0 s^?1. Both alloys benefited from hot deformation within the ranges studied. The experimental alloy achieved an average density of 99·6% (±0·2%) while the commercial alloy achieved 98·3% (±0·6%) of its theoretical density. It was found that the experimentally obtained peak flow stresses for each material studied could be very closely approximated using the semi-empirical Zener–Hollomon models.     

Hot Dip Galvanizing Simulation of Interstitial Free Steel by Liquid Zinc Spin Coater: Influence of Dew Point on Surface Chemistry and Wettability

In order to establish the relationship between surface chemistry and wettability as a function of dew point, an attempt has been made to simulate the hot‐dip galvanizing process with an ‘in‐house’ built Liquid Zinc Spin Coater. Interstitial free (IF) steel was annealed at 820°C in N₂‐5%H₂ gas atmospheres with dew points of ‐79°C, ‐29°C and 0°C, respectively. The wettability tests were conducted at 470°C at low dew point of ‐79°C. Surface analyses prior to wetting were carried out by using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE‐SEM). As expected, external oxidation of Al was observed only at the low dew point. With increasing dew point the oxidation of Cr and Si becomes internal. The formation of manganese silicates was observed at all dew points. While sulphur was detected on the specimen surface after all annealing conditions, the segregation of P starts to be significant at dew point 0°C by forming Mn‐phosphates. Despite the surface oxides, specimens annealed at all dew points are in the wetting regime by liquid zinc. Investigations on the steel/zinc interface of IF steel by using the liquid zinc spin coater were successful.     

Influence of minor Zr and Ti on microstructures and properties of Al–8·6Zn–2·5Mg–2·2Cu alloys

Abstract

The effect of minor Zr and Ti elements on microstructures and properties of Al–8·6Zn–2·5Mg–2·2Cu alloys was investigated. The results show that there is no significant change in the grain size by simultaneous addition of Zr and Ti as compared to individual additions of Zr or Ti to Al–8·6Zn–2·5Mg–2·2Cu alloy. The ability of restraining recrystallisation of Al–8·6Zn–2·5Mg–2·2Cu–0·16Zr–0·04Ti alloy is weaker than that of alloy Al–8·6Zn–2·5Mg–2·2Cu–0·16Zr alloy, since Ti and Zr have a poisoning interaction. The corresponding tensile properties, hardness and stress corrosion cracking resistance of the Al–8·6Zn–2·5Mg–2·2Cu–0·16Zr alloy were decreased by addition of Ti.     

热镀锌机组锌锅有效铝含量精确控制技术

锌锅铝含量控制直接影响到锌锅内锌渣的产生量和抑制层的生成,并进而影响到产品的表面质量。对影响热镀锌机组锌锅铝含量控制的锌锅铁含量控制、有效铝计算方法、加入锌锭种类以及加入锌锭的方法等因素进行了系统分析,修正了有效铝计算方法,并根据不同锌层厚度计算得出0．325％,0．400％和0．500％铝含量的锌锭加入组合,并通过锌锅液位反馈实现精确加入锌锭的方法,实现了锌锅有效铝在目标值±0．01％范围内精确控制的目标。     

Galvannealing of (High‐)Manganese‐Alloyed TRIP‐ and X‐IP®‐Steel

In this study the influence of Mn on galvannealed coatings of 1.7% Mn‐1.5% Al TRIP‐ and 23% Mn X‐IP®‐steels was investigated. It is shown that the external selective oxides like Mn, Al and Si of the TRIP steel which occur after annealing at 800 °C for 60 s at a dew point (DP) of ‐25 °C (5% H₂) hamper the Fe/Zn‐reaction during subsequent galvannealing. Preoxidation was beneficially utilized to increase the surface‐reactivity of the TRIP steel under the same dew point conditions. The influence of Mn on the steel alloy was investigated by using a 23% Mn containing X‐IP®‐steel which was bright annealed at 1100 °C for 60 s at DP ‐50 °C (5% H₂) to obtain a mainly oxide free surface prior to hot dip galvanizing (hdg) and subsequent galvannealing. As well known from the literature Mn alloyed to the liquid zinc melt stabilizes δ‐phase at lower temperatures by participating in the Fe‐Zn‐phase reactions, it was expected that the metallic Mn of the X‐IP®‐steel increases the Fe/Zn‐reactivity in the same manner. The approximation of the effective diffusion coefficient (D_eff(Fe)) during galvannealing was found to be higher than compared to a low alloyed steel reference. Contrary to the expectation no increased Fe/Zn‐reaction was found by microscopic investigations. Residual η‐ and ζ‐phase fractions prove a hampered Fe/Zn‐reaction. As explanation for the observed hampered Fe/Zn‐reaction the lower Fe‐content of the high‐Mn‐alloyed X‐IP®‐steel was suggested as the dominating factor for galvannealing.     

内氧化对热镀锌高强钢镀层/基板界面的影响

 由于高强钢中添加的Si、Mn等合金元素会在退火时会发生选择性氧化,从而影响镀液与带钢之间的润湿性,因此热镀锌高强钢生产存在可镀性的难题。为了提高热镀锌高强钢的镀层附着性,以不同镀层附着性的连续热镀锌0.2%C-1.8%Si-1.8%Mn高强钢为研究对象,采用GD-OES、SEM、FIB、TEM等研究了镀层/基板界面抑制层与基板次表层内氧化层的特征,同时采用模拟退火试验研究了退火气氛露点对内氧化层形成的影响,揭示了退火气氛露点、内氧化层厚度、抑制层覆盖率与镀层附着性之间的相关性。结果表明,该热镀锌高强钢镀层附着性优劣由镀层/基板界面位置抑制层决定,当抑制层覆盖率达到80%以上时,可获得良好的镀层附着性。内氧化层厚度对抑制层覆盖率的影响存在临界厚度,约为0.58 μm。当内氧化层厚度由0逐渐增加至0.58 μm时,抑制层覆盖率由约10%增加至约80%;当内氧化层厚度由0.58进一步增加至3.85 μm时,抑制层覆盖率略有增加,介于80%~90%之间。提高退火气氛露点可以促进基板次表层形成内氧化,在退火温度分别为800和870 ℃、保温时间为120 s、退火气氛为N₂-5% H₂(体积分数)的试验条件下,当退火气氛露点由-40 ℃提高到+10 ℃时,内氧化层厚度由基本为0提高至3~5 μm。为了获得合适的内氧化层厚度,建议将0.2%C-1.8%Si-1.8%Mn高强钢的退火气氛露点控制在-20~-10 ℃范围内。     

Dezincing of zinc alloy coated steel scrap in hot caustic soda

Dezincing of zinc and zinc alloy coated industrial scrap could make a useful contribution to steel recycling. Earlier studies have demonstrated the possibility of dezincing hot dip galvanised steel scrap in hot caustic soda. The work is now extended to dezincing of zinc alloy coated steel, with the emphasis on galvannealed steel. The zinc dissolution rate of galvannealed steel turns out to be higher than that of hot dip galvanised steel. However, the residual zinc content is higher. This zinc is contained in a loosely bound film of black dust. Methods to remove the residual zinc can be found in mechanical treatments such as dezincing in a rotating drum.     

冷轧带钢表面污染物及其对热镀锌的影响

在冷轧过程中,由于轧制油性能差,乳化液参数选择不当,乳化液脱铁净化效率低,轧制参数优化不佳,轧机出口吹扫不力等原因,都会使冷硬板表面油脂和铁粉污染物的含量增加,在热镀锌时不仅会产生大量的锌渣增加生产成本,还会污染退火炉和锌锅,在带钢表面产生压痕和锌粒缺陷,降低表面质量.     

Improvement and optimisation of hot dip galvanising line using neural networks and genetic algorithms

Abstract

In the present article, an application is present based on the combination of genetic algorithms and neural networks, used to improve the annealing process of a hot dip galvanising line with steel coils. The main objective is to determine the best settings for a furnace in order to reduce the margin of error between the actual strip temperature and expected temperature, not only for each coil that forms the strip, but also in the zones of the strip where transitions are formed by coils with different dimensions or steel types. Basically, the methodology consists in training a multilayer perceptron (MLP), which then determines the settings of the furnace and the speed of the strip according to the type of coil that forms the same strip. Another MLP is used to predict the dynamic behaviour of the strip related to its fluctuations in speed, as well as the temperature of the furnace. In this way, using simulations and genetic algorithms, the optimum settings of the furnace are determined, as well as the speed of the strip in those zones where there are changes in the coils, namely, in dimensions and types of steel.     

Improvement of fatigue properties of PM steels by shot peening

Abstract

Shot peening was used for improving the fatigue properties of Fe–2Cu–0·5C PM steel. The steel is generally used for production of high performance sintered parts such as small connecting rods for cooling system compressors. To distinguish the effects of each alloying element, Fe, Fe–2Cu, and Fe–0·5C were also investigated. Optimum shot peening intensities are: 25A for pure iron and Fe–2Cu, 30A for Fe–0·5C, and 35A for Fe–2Cu–0·5C. For these intensities, improvements of the fatigue strengths of the materials investigated are as follows: 31% for pure iron, 48% for Fe–0·5C, 46% for Fe–2Cu, and 38% for Fe–2Cu– 0·5C. From the experimental results it could be concluded that both of the alloying additions, carbon and copper, are contributing to the fatigue strength improvements by shot peening.