Next Article in Journal
The Role of the Oxidation and Reduction Parameters on the Properties of the Reduced Graphene Oxide
Previous Article in Journal
Near Infrared Sensor to Determine Carbon Dioxide Gas Based on Ionic Liquid
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Coatings
Volume 11
Issue 2
10.3390/coatings11020164
coatings-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Influence of Multi-Step Heating Methods on Properties of Al–Si Coating Boron Steel Sheet

by
Weikang Liang
1,2,3,4,
Jinchang Duan
1,2,3,
Qianting Wang
1,2,3,*,
Junhao Dong
1,2,3,
Qiong Liu
1,2,3,
Chen Lin
1,2,3 and
Yisheng Zhang
4
1
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China
2
Fu Jian Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Processing and Application, Fuzhou 350118, China
3
Fujian Provincial Precision Processing Manufacturing Engineering Research Center, Fuzhou 350118, China
4
State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Coatings 2021, 11(2), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11020164
Submission received: 13 September 2020 / Revised: 18 January 2021 / Accepted: 26 January 2021 / Published: 30 January 2021
(This article belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
In this study, the influence of the multi-step heating methods, such as two-step heating methods and three-step heating methods, on the properties of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet were evaluated by using the Gleeble-3500 thermal simulator. The evolution of microstructure and 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating were also investigated. The results showed that the heating rates of 50 °C/s, named rapid heating, at the stage of 20–500 °C did not significantly influence the microstructure and 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating in the two-step heating methods. The results also indicated that the volume fractions of Fe3Al2Si3 intermetallic compound, FeAl intermetallic compound and a-Fe phase in the Al–Si coating reduced by rapid heating at the stage of 700–930 °C in the three-step heating methods. The roughness of 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating increased by rapid heating at the stage of 700–930 °C. Rapid heating at the stage of 700–930 °C had little influence on the porosity of the Al–Si coating. The results provided a theoretical basis for the popularization and application of rapid heating in the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet.

1. Introduction

With the increasingly serious of energy and environment crisis, energy saving and emission reducing were the future development direction of the automobile industry. The effective method to achieve energy saving and emission reducing was to reduce the weight of the automobiles which did not lose the structural strength of automobiles. The use of ultra-high strength steel (also called boron steel) became necessary due to meeting the requirements of lightweight and structural strength of the automobiles. The cold forming of ultra-high strength steel had the problems of wrinkling, cracking, springback, poor dimensional accuracy, and high forming force [1]. In order to solve the above problems, the hot stamping method was usually used internationally [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. The hot stamping included the following process of heating, transportation, forming, and simultaneous quenching. However, the surface of the uncoated ultra-high strength steel was prone to oxidation and decarburization during the hot stamping process of heating, transportation, and forming [9]. The deciduous oxide scale would accelerate the wear of the die surface and affect the life of the die and the forming quality of the parts [10,11]. While the decarburization would reduce the surface strength of the hot stamping parts [12]. The coating boron steel sheet solved the oxidation and decarburization of the uncoating boron steel sheet, which made it ever-increasing used in hot stamping [13,14,15]. At present, the coatings applied to hot stamping were Al–Si coating (Al-10 wt % Si), pure zinc coating (GI), Zn–Ni alloy coating, composite coating, etc., [16,17,18,19,20,21,22]. The Al–Si coating was the widest application coating in the hot stamping, due to its unique advantages of die protection and substrate corrosion resistance [23,24,25].
The hot stamping began with the process of austenitization of the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet by heating. During the process of austenitization, the diffusion behavior of atoms between the substrate and Al–Si coating was investigated by the scholars. In order to achieve full alloying between the Al–Si coating and the substrate, and guarantee the subsequent processing properties of the hot stamping parts of the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet, Arcelor Mittal Co., Ltd., gave the specific heating process and the microstructure of the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet under partial heating rates conditions [26]. Windmann and Frank et al. studied the microstructure evolution of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet during the process of austenitization, and found that the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet was gradually transformed to Fe2Al7Si, FeAl4.5Si, Fe2Al5, FeAl3, FeAl2, Fe3Al2Si3, FeAl, and α-Fe [27,28,29]. Zhang et al. [30] investigated the effects of different holding times on the microstructure evolution of the austenitization process of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet, and proposed that the driving force of the microstructure evolution process of the Al–Si coating was the diffusion of Fe atoms. They declared that with the Fe content in the A–Si coating increasing, various intermetallic compounds were gradually formed. Fan [31], Cheng [32], Wang [33], Pontevichi [34], Achar [35], and Pelcastre [36] pointed out that the evolution of voids in the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet was related to the diffusion behavior of Fe atoms and Al atoms during the heating process. They also found that the evolution of microcracks in the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet was relevant to the difference of the thermal expansion coefficient of the new formed FexAlySiz intermetallic compounds. The surface roughness of the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet was related to the formation behavior of intermetallic compounds. Liang [37] found that the heating rates did not significantly influence the microstructure and FexAlySiz intermetallic compounds of the coating when the heating temperature was equal to or less than the eutectic temperature of Al–Si binary compound. Hong [38] found that when the Al–Si coating was first heated to 570 °C by continues electric current and then heated by pulsed current, the thickness of the intermetallic compound layer in the Al–Si coating was increased by extending the pulse current processing time. The three-layer structures of Fe2Al7Si, FeAl2, and FeAl were obtained in the intermetallic compounds layer. Hong [38] pointed out that it may be caused by the non-thermal effect of the pulsed current to promote the diffusion of Fe atoms. However, the evolution of microstructure and 3D surface topography of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet during the process of multi-step heating methods, such as two-step methods and three-step methods, was rarely studied in the previous study.
The study was to discuss the effects of two-step heating methods and three-step heating methods on properties of the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet, such as microstructure, phase compositions, Kirkendall voids and 3D surface topography. The heating tests were carried out by the Gleeble-3500 thermal simulator (DSI, St. Paul, MN, USA). The microstructure, phase compositions, and Kirkendall voids of the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet in hot-dipped conditions and after heat treatments were investigated by environmental scanning electron microscope (QUANYA 200, FEI, Eindhoven, The Netherland). The compositions of the intermetallic compounds of the Al–Si coating were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating was investigated by 3D optical microscope (VHX-1000C, KEYENCE, Tokyo, Japan). The results of the studies have certain guiding significance for the development of heating process for the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet.

2. Experimental

2.1. Materials

The thickness of the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet using in the tests in hot-dipped conditions is 1.8 mm. The chemical compositions of the substrate are displayed in Table 1. The coating was hot-dipped on the substrate in a molten bath containing Al-10 wt % Si. The average coating weight of the top surface of the coated boron steel sheet was about 84 g/m2, and that of the bottom surface was about 77.6 g/m2 [39].
The cross section of the Al–Si coating layer and details of the intermetallic compound layer were displayed in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the surface of the Al–Si coating layer was relatively smooth, and the intermetallic compound structure remained continuous and dense. The EDS results of the marked regions in the Al–Si coating layer were given in Table 2. The Al–Si coating layer was composited of Fe2Al7Si, Fe3Al2Si3, and Fe2Al5. The 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating was illustrated in Figure 2. The roughness of the Al–Si coating surface was small, and the height difference between the highest surface and the lowest surface of the Al–Si coating was 7.18 μm.

2.2. Experimental Schemes

According to the influence of heating rates, maximum heating temperature, and holding times on the properties of the Al–Si coating [37], new heating tests were designed. The new heating tests included the two-step heating methods (Figure 3a) and three-step heating methods (Figure 3b). The tests were used to further explore the effects of the multi-step heating methods on the microstructure and 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating. The tests were implemented by the Gleeble-3500 thermal simulator. After different heat treatment tests, the samples used to characterize microstructure were cut from the middle of the heat treatment samples (Figure 4). Then, the samples were sanded with the sandpapers and polished with the polishing pastes. The cross-sectional microstructure, porosity, and 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating after the heat treatments were observed by ESEM/EDS and 3D optical microscope, respectively.

3. Results

3.1. Two-Step Heating Methods

3.1.1. Microstructure Evolution of Al–Si Coating Boron Steel Sheet

After the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet was treated by the two schemes of the two-step heating methods (Figure 5), microstructure and phase compositions of the Al–Si coating were illustrated in Figure 6.
It can be seen from Figure 6 that after the two-step heating methods, a small amount new intermetallic compound of FeAl4.5Si would form in the Al–Si matrix, and the intermetallic compound of Fe2Al7Si grew from the substrate regions towards the Al–Si eutectic compound region. There were Fe3Al2Si3, Fe2Al7Si, Fe2Al5, and FeAl4.5Si (Table 3) in the intermetallic layers, detected by EDS, as illustrated in Figure 6. The dense degree of Fe2Al7Si formed in scheme A was better than that of scheme B, while the roughness of the Al–Si coating surface in scheme B was slightly better than that of scheme A. It can also be seen from Figure 6 that compared with the process of heating from 20 to 700 °C via the heating rates of 10 °C/s [37], the microstructure of the Al–Si coating obtained by the two-step heating methods was almost the same, which indicated that the two-step heating methods did not influence the microstructure and intermetallic compounds of the Al–Si coating. It is because that at a certain heating temperature, regardless of the heating rates, if the heating temperature was under the phase transition temperature point, no new intermetallic compounds would formed. The highest temperature at the stage of 20–500 °C was less than the melting temperature of Al–Si eutectic compounds [31], the eutectic compounds in the Al–Si coating did not melt yet and remain solid. There was not phase changed in the Al–Si coating below 573 °C [40]. Due to the hindrance of Si in the Al–Si coating, the interdiffusion between Al atoms and the substrate in the Al–Si coating was very slow [41,42,43,44]. Therefore, the heating rates of 50 °C/s, named rapid heating, can be applied to heating the Al–Si coating at the stage of 20–500 °C which did not significantly influence on the microstructure of the Al–Si coating.

3.1.2. Variations of 3D Surface Topography of Al–Si Coating Boron Steel Sheet

After the two schemes of the two-step heating methods, 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating was shown in Figure 7. It can be seen from Figure 7 that the height differences between the highest surface and the lowest surface of the Al–Si coating through scheme A and scheme B were 17.38 and 16.67 μm, respectively. That is to say, the roughness of the Al–Si coating surface of scheme A was slightly greater than that of scheme B. Compared with the heating rates of 10 °C/s [37], the roughness of the Al–Si coating surface slightly reduced. In other words, the two schemes have little influence on the roughness of the Al–Si coating surface. After the process of two-step heating methods, the types of intermetallic compounds in the Al–Si coating were the same and the differences of 3D surface topography were not large. However, compared with the hot-dipped condition, the roughness of the Al–Si coating surface was greatly changed. It is because that the new FeAl4.5Si intermetallic compound generated in the Al–Si matrix and the Fe2Al7Si intermetallic compound grew from the substrate regions toward the Al–Si eutectic compound regions. According to Fe–Al–Si intermetallic compounds phase diagram [45,46], when the heating temperature was more than 550 °C, Fe atoms diffused into the Al–Si coating layer, new FexAlySiz intermetallic compounds would be generated. Dense intermetallic compounds formed in some regions, while in other regions no or a small number of intermetallic compounds formed. In the regions where dense intermetallic compounds were generated, the volume would reduced, while in the non-generated regions, the volume kept invariant. Due to the influence of atoms diffusion and diffusion times, the distribution of intermetallic compounds in the Al–Si coating would become uneven, which would affect 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating. The experimental studies showed that rapid heating can be used at 20–500 °C without affecting the properties of the Al–Si coating.

3.2. Three-Step Heating Methods

3.2.1. Microstructure Evolution of Al–Si Coating Boron Steel Sheet

After the four schemes of the three-step heating methods (Figure 8), microstructure and phase composition of the Al–Si coating was shown in Figure 9. It can be seen from Figure 9 that compared with the hot-dipped condition, the Al–Si coating was transformed into Fe3Al2Si3, FeAl2, FeAl, and α-Fe through the four schemes (Table 4). The dark phase was the FeAl2 intermetallic compound, and the bright phases were Fe3Al2Si3 intermetallic compound, or FeAl intermetallic compound or α-Fe phase. According to a quantitative image analysis (as shown in Table 5), the mean thickness of the Al–Si coating through the four schemes was 39.4, 40.3, 39.8, and 37.5 μm, respectively.
The bright α-Fe phase located near the substrate was a solid solution of Al and Si atoms in the high temperature. The α-Fe phase has the feature of the preferable plasticity which could prevent the growth of the cracks extending to the substrate [47]. The mean thickness of the α-Fe soft phase of the Al–Si coating through the four schemes was 9.7, 8.8, 7.6, and 6.8 μm, separately. The volume fractions of the α-Fe soft phase of the Al–Si coating by the four schemes was 22.68%, 20.53%, 21.32%, 14.06%, respectively. The volume fractions of Fe3Al2Si3 intermetallic compound of the Al–Si coating via the four schemes was 11.53%, 9.85%, 7.69%, and 4.97%, in turn. The volume fractions of FeAl intermetallic compound of the Al–Si coating through the four schemes was 9.92%, 8.75%, 6.19%, and 3.71%, respectively. The results also indicated that the thickness of the α-Fe phase gradually reduced and the distribution of Fe3Al2Si3 intermetallic compound and FeAl intermetallic compound was less homogenous through the four schemes. It is because that when the heating temperature reached the Fe–Al–Si transformation temperature point, corresponding new intermetallic compounds formed. The number and the distribution of intermetallic compounds were decided by the diffusion times. There was a further alloying process in the Al–Si coating at the stage of 700–930 °C. Because the time of rapid heating was short, the interdiffusion between Fe atoms and Al atoms was insufficient which affected the alloying process. Thus, the number of newly formed intermetallic compounds reduced.
The number and the size of Kirkendall voids through the four schemes gradually increased in the Al–Si coating, except scheme B. The size of Kirkendall voids in scheme D reached maximum. The porosity of the Al–Si coating was 2.92%, 2.53%, 2.96%, and 3.31%, separately. The Kirkendall voids appeared in the Al–Si coating through the four schemes due to the inconsistent diffusion coefficient of Fe atoms and Al atoms [31]. A small amount of micro-cracking appeared in the Al–Si coating through the four schemes owning to the inconsistent thermal expansion coefficient of the new formed intermetallic compounds [48].

3.2.2. Variations of 3D Surface Topography of Al–Si Coating Boron Steel Sheet

After the four schemes of the three-step heating methods, the 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating was shown in Figure 10. It can be seen from Figure 10 that the roughness of the Al–Si coating surface rose gradually through four schemes, and the height differences between the highest surface and the lowest surface of the Al–Si coating through the four schemes was 11.83, 12.89, 20, and 23.49 μm, respectively. That is to say, scheme D was the largest, and scheme A was smallest. Scheme A and scheme C were smaller than that of scheme B and scheme D, separately. The roughness of the Al–Si coating surface of scheme B was slightly greater than that of scheme A. It is because that there was a severe stage of alloying and phase transformation of the Al–Si coating at the temperature ranging from 700 to 930 °C. However, the heating time of rapid heating was short which led the insufficient interdiffusion between the substrate and the Al–Si coating. It would cause the uneven distribution of newly generated intermetallic compounds, which would affect 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating. With the heating temperature increasing, more and more Fe-rich intermetallic compounds formed in the Al–Si coating. Due to the high density of the Fe-rich intermetallic compounds (Table 6), the volumes of the regions became smaller, and the changing density of the newly generated intermetallic compounds would also affect 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating. In addition, the newly generated intermetallic compounds would also influence the diffusion of atoms in the Al–Si coating, making the diffusion of atoms easier in some regions of the Al–Si coating, but hindering in some regions, which would also influence 3D surface topography. Therefore, rapid heating made the larger roughness of the Al–Si coating surface appear in the stage of 700–930 °C. Since there was not phase changed in the Al–Si coating layer in the stage of 20–500 °C, the rapid heating had little influence on the roughness of the Al–Si coating surface. Compared with the two-step heating methods, the roughness of the Al–Si coating surface through the three-step heating methods of scheme A and scheme B became smaller, but scheme C and scheme D became larger. It is because that the Al–Si coating would be conducted in the direction of generating dense intermetallic compounds to reduce the volume and formed a smooth surface to minimize its surface energy. While the formation mechanism of 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating was complicated. In a word, the heating temperature, the diffusion of atoms, the newly generated intermetallic compounds, the surface tension and the degree of oxidation of the surface jointly determined the changes of 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating.

4. Conclusions

In the two-step heating methods, the heating rates of 50 °C/s, named rapid heating, was used at the temperature range from 20 to 500 °C, which did not significantly influence on microstructure and 3D surface topography of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet. The height differences between the highest surface and the lowest surface of the Al–Si coating were 17.38 and 16.67 μm, respectively. In the three-step heating methods, the mean thickness and volume fractions of the α-Fe soft phase of the Al–Si coating gradually decreased through the four schemes, changing from 9.7 μm and 22.68% to 6.8 μm and 14.06%, separately. The volume fraction of Fe3Al2Si3 intermetallic compound decreased, ranging from 11.53% to 4.97%, respectively. While that of FeAl intermetallic compound also decreased, varying from 9.92% to 3.71%, in turn. The overall trend of the porosity of the Al–Si coating was gradually increased, except scheme B, changing from 2.92% to 3.31%. The roughness of 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating increased gradually. The height difference between the highest surface and the lowest surface of the Al–Si coating varied from 11.83 to 23.49 μm.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, W.L. and Y.Z.; methodology, W.L. and Q.W.; software, J.D. (Jinchang Duan); validation, J.D. (Junhao Dong), and C.L.; formal analysis, W.L.; investigation, J.D. (Jinchang Duan) and C.L.; resources, J.D. (Jinchang Duan), J.D. (Junhao Dong), Q.L. and C.L.; data curation, W.L.; writing—original draft preparation, W.L.; writing—review and editing, Q.W.; visualization, W.L.; supervision, Y.Z.; project administration, Q.W.; funding acquisition, W.L. and Q.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research work is financially supported by the Central Government Guiding Local Science and Technology Development Project (grant no. 2018L3001), Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mold Technology (grant no. P2019-007), Guiding Project of the Science and Technology Department of Fujian Province (grant no. 2018H0004), Young and Middle-aged Teacher Education Research Project of the Education Department of Fujian Province (grant no. JAT170380).

Data Availability Statement

Data is contained within the article. The data presented in this study are available in this article.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Mould Engineering Research Center of Fujian Province and Fuzhou Innovation Platform for Novel Materials and Mould Technology.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

References

  1. Abe, Y.; Ohmi, T.; Mori, K.; Masuda, T. Improvement of formability in deep drawing of ultra-high strength steel sheets by coating of die. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 2014, 214, 1838–1843. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Karbasian, H.; Tekkaya, A. A review on hot stamping. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 2010, 210, 2103–2118. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Merklein, M.; Wieland, M.; Lechner, M.; Bruschi, S.; Ghiotti, A. Hot stamping of boron steel sheets with tailored properties: A review. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 2016, 228, 11–24. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Zhou, J.; Mu, Y.; Wang, B.-Y. A damage-coupled unified viscoplastic constitutive model for prediction of forming limits of 22MnB5 at high temperatures. Int. J. Mech. Sci. 2017, 133, 457–468. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Li, Y.; Li, S.; Chen, Y.; Han, G. Constitutive parameters identification based on DIC assisted thermo-mechanical tensile test for hot stamping of boron steel. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 2019, 271, 429–443. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Tang, B.; Wu, F.; Wang, Q.; Liu, J.; Guo, N.; Ge, H.; Wang, Q.; Liu, P. Damage prediction of hot stamped boron steel 22MnB5 with a microscopic motivated ductile fracture criterion: Experiment and simulation. Int. J. Mech. Sci. 2020, 169, 105302. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Liang, W.-K.; Liu, Y.; Zhu, B.; Zhou, M.-L.; Zhang, Y.-S. Conduction heating of boron alloyed steel in application for hot stamping. Int. J. Precis. Eng. Man. 2015, 16, 1983–1992. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Wang, C.; Zhang, Y.-S.; Tian, X.-W.; Li, J. Thermal contact conductance estimation and experimental validation in hot stamping process. Sci. China Tech. Sci. 2012, 55, 1852–1857. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Mori, K.; Bariani, P.F.; Behrens, B.-A.; Brosius, A.; Bruschi, S.; Maeno, T.; Merklein, M.; Yanagimoto, J. Hot stamping of ultra-high strength steel parts. CIRP Ann. 2017, 66, 755–777. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Mori, K.; Ito, D. Prevention of oxidation in hot stamping of quenchable steel sheet by oxidation preventive oil. CIRP Ann. 2009, 58, 267–270. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Kondratiuk, J.; Kuhn, P. Tribological investigation on friction and wear behaviour of coatings for hot sheet metal forming. Wear 2011, 270, 839–849. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Hu, P.; Ying, L.; Li, Y.; Liao, Z. Effect of oxide scale on temperature-dependent interfacial heat transfer in hot stamping process. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 2013, 213, 1475–1483. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Suehiro, M.; Kusumi, K.; Maki, J.; Ohgami, M. Properties of aluminium steels for hot-forming. Nippon Steel Tech. Rep. 2003, 88, 16–21. [Google Scholar]
  14. Azushima, A.; Uda, K.; Yanagida, A. Friction behavior of aluminum-coated 22MnB5 in hot stamping under dry and lubricated conditions. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 2012, 212, 1014–1021. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Jeon, Y.P.; Seo, H.-Y.; Kim, J.-D.; Kang, C.G. Experimental analysis of coating layer behavior of Al–Si-coated boron steel in a hot bending process for IT applications. Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol. 2013, 67, 1693–1700. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Wu, C.-W.; Huang, C.; Chen, G. Interface delamination of the thermal barrier coating subjected to local heating. Sci. China Ser. E: Technol. Sci. 2010, 53, 3168–3174. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Ghiotti, A.; Bruschi, S.; Sgarabotto, F.; Bariani, P. Tribological performances of Zn-based coating in direct hot stamping. Tribol. Int. 2014, 78, 142–151. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Ghiotti, A.; Bruschi, S.; Medea, F. Comparison of tribological and wear performances of AlSi and Zn coatings in hot stamping of boron steel sheets. Wear 2015, 332, 810–821. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Chakraborty, A.; Mondal, A.; Halder, A.-K.; Dutta, M.; Singh, S.B. Evolution of microstructure of zinc-nickel alloy coating during hot stamping of boron added steels. J. Alloys Compd. 2019, 794, 672–682. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Chang, J.-K.; Lin, C.-S.; Cheng, W.-J.; Lo, I.-H.; Wang, W.-R. Oxidation resistant silane coating for hot-dip galvanized hot stamping steel. Corros. Sci. 2020, 164, 108307. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Wang, K.; Zhu, B.; Wang, Z.; Liu, Y.; Wang, L.; Zhang, Y.; Li, S. Successive phase and morphology evolution of galvannealed coating in hot stamping and diffusion modeling of α-Fe(Zn)/steel system considering the effect of Zn concentration. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2019, 380, 125036. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Chang, J.-K.; Lin, C.-S.; Wang, W.-R.; Jian, S.-Y. High temperature deformation behaviors of hot dip 55 wt % Al-Zn coated steel. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2020, 511, 145550. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Zhang, J.; Jiang, S.-M.; Zhang, Q.-F.; Liu, C.-S. Effect of temperature on microstructure and formability of Al-10 mass% Si coatings. J. Iron Steel Res. Int. 2016, 23, 270–275. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Ighodaro, O.; Biro, E.; Zhou, Y. Comparative effects of Al-Si and galvannealed coatings on the properties of resistance spot welded hot stamping steel joints. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 2016, 236, 64–72. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Sun, Y.; Wu, L.; Tan, C.; Zhou, W.; Chen, B.; Song, X.; Zhao, H.; Feng, J. Influence of Al-Si coating on microstructure and mechanical properties of fiber laser welded 22MnB5 steel. Opt. Laser Technol. 2019, 116, 117–127. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Drillet, P.; Spehner, D.; Kefferstein, R. Coated Steel Strips, Methods of Making the Same, Methods of Using the Same, Stamping Blanks Prepared from the Same, Stamped Products Prepared from the Pame, and Prticles of Manufacture Which Contain Such a Stamped Product. Google Patents US8307680B2, 13 November 2012. [Google Scholar]
  27. Jenner, F.; Walter, M.-E.; Iyengar, R.-M.; Hughes, R. Evolution of phases, microstructure, and surface roughness during heat treatment of aluminized low carbon steel. Metall. Mater. Trans. A. 2010, 41A, 1554–1563. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Windmann, M.; Röttger, A.; Theisen, W. Formation of intermetallic phases in Al-coated hot-stamped 22MnB5 sheets in terms of coating thickness and Si content. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2014, 246, 17–25. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Windmann, M.; Röttger, A.; Theisen, W. Phase formation at the interface between a boron alloyed steel substrate and an Al-rich coating. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2013, 226, 130–139. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Yuan, X.-H.; Zhang, Q.-F. Microstructure Evolution of Hot-Dip Al-10%Si Coating during the Austenitization of 22MnB5 Hot Stamping Steel. Acta Metall. Sin. 2017, 53, 1495–1503. (In Chinese) [Google Scholar]
  31. Fan, D.W.; Kim, H.S.; Oh, J.-K.; Chin, K.-G.; De Cooman, B.C. Coating Degradation in Hot Press Forming. ISIJ Int. 2010, 50, 561–568. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  32. Cheng, W.; Wang, C. Microstructural evolution of intermetallic layer in hot-dipped aluminide mild steel with silicon addition. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2011, 205, 4726–4731. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Wang, K.; Jin, Y.; Zhu, B.; Zhang, Y. Investigation on cracking characteristics of Al–Si coating on hot stamping boron steel parts based on surface strain analysis. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2017, 309, 282–294. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Pontevichi, S.; Bosselet, F.; Barbeau, F.; Peronnet, M.; Viala, J.-C. Solid-liquid phase equilibria in the Al-Fe-Si system at 727 °C. J. Phase Equilib. Diffus. 2004, 25, 528–537. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Achar, D.-R.-G.; Ruge, J.; Sundaresan, S. Joining aluminum and steel, especially by means of welding. In Aluminum Monography; Aluminum-Verlag: Düsseldorf, Germany, 1980. [Google Scholar]
  36. Pelcastre, L.; Hardell, J.; Rolland, A.; Prakash, B. Influence of microstructural evolution of Al-Si coated UHSS on its tribological behaviour against tool steel at elevated temperatures. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 2016, 228, 117–124. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  37. Liang, W.; Tao, W.; Zhu, B.; Zhang, Y. Influence of heating parameters on properties of the Al-Si coating applied to hot stamping. Sci. China Ser. E: Technol. Sci. 2017, 60, 1088–1102. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Dinh, K.-A.; Hong, S.-T.; Luu, T.-V.; Kim, M.-J.; Han, H.N. Intermetallic Evolution of Al–Si-Coated Hot Stamping Steel During Modified Electrically Assisted Rapid Heating. Acta Metall. Sin. 2018, 31, 1327–1333. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  39. Gui, Z.-X.; Liang, W.-K.; Liu, Y.; Zhang, Y. Thermo-mechanical behavior of the Al–Si alloy coated hot stamping boron steel. Mater. Des. 2014, 60, 26–33. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Siebert, P.; Alsmann, M.; Watermeier, H.-J. Influence of different heating technologies on the coating properties of hot-dip aluminized 22MnB5. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Hot Sheet Metal Forming of High Performance Steel, CHS2, Kassel, Germany, 13–17 June 2011; pp. 457–464. [Google Scholar]
  41. Han, Y.; Chen, X.; Li, L.; Zhang, X.; Zhou, D. Effect of Si on the Formation and Growth of Intermetallic Compounds at Roll-Bonded Aluminum-Steel (Al-St) Interface. J. Mater. Eng. Perform. 2018, 27, 333–343. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Barros, J.; Ros-Yáñez, T.; Houbaert, Y. Chemical and physical interactions of Si-rich steel substrates during hot dipping experiments in a molten Al-(25 wt%) Si alloy. In Defect and Diffusion Forum; Trans Tech Publications Ltd.: Stafa-Zurich, Switzerland, 2005; Volume 237, pp. 1115–1120. [Google Scholar]
  43. Grigorieva, R.; Drillet, P.; Mataigne, J.-M.; Redjaïmia, A. Phase transformations in the Al-Si coating during the austenitization step. In Solid State Phenomena; Trans Tech Publications Ltd.: Stafa-Zurich, Switzerland, 2011; Volume 172, pp. 784–790. [Google Scholar]
  44. He, H.; Gou, W.; Wang, S.; Hou, Y.; Ma, C.; Mendez, P.F. Kinetics of intermetallic compound layers during initial period of reaction between mild steel and molten aluminum. Int. J. Mater. Res. 2019, 110, 194–201. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Liu, Z.-K.; Chang, Y.-A. Thermodynamic assessment of the Al-Fe-Si system. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 1999, 30, 1081–1095. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Raghavan, V, Al-Fe-Si (Aluminum-Iron-Silicon). JPE 2002, 23, 362–366. [CrossRef]
  47. Azimaee, H.; Sarfaraz, M.; Mirjalili, M.; Aminian, K. Effect of silicon and manganese on the kinetics and morphology of the intermetallic layer growth during hot-dip aluminizing. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2019, 357, 483–496. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Gui, Z.-X.; Wang, K.; Zhang, Y.-S.; Zhu, B. Cracking and interfacial debonding of the Al–Si coating in hot stamping of pre-coated boron steel. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2014, 316, 595–603. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Coatings 11 00164 g001 550
Figure 1. Cross sectional characterization of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet of (a) Hot-dipped coating and (b) details of intermetallic compound layer.
Figure 1. Cross sectional characterization of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet of (a) Hot-dipped coating and (b) details of intermetallic compound layer.
Coatings 11 00164 g001
Coatings 11 00164 g002 550
Figure 2. 3D surface topography of the hot-dipped Al–Si coating.
Figure 2. 3D surface topography of the hot-dipped Al–Si coating.
Coatings 11 00164 g002
Coatings 11 00164 g003 550
Figure 3. Test schemes of multi-step heating methods of (a) two-step heating methods and (b) three-step heating methods.
Figure 3. Test schemes of multi-step heating methods of (a) two-step heating methods and (b) three-step heating methods.
Coatings 11 00164 g003
Coatings 11 00164 g004 550
Figure 4. Heating samples (units: mm).
Figure 4. Heating samples (units: mm).
Coatings 11 00164 g004
Coatings 11 00164 g005 550
Figure 5. Two-step heating methods of (a) theoretical thermal history and (b) actual thermal history.
Figure 5. Two-step heating methods of (a) theoretical thermal history and (b) actual thermal history.
Coatings 11 00164 g005
Coatings 11 00164 g006 550
Figure 6. Influence of two-step heating methods on microstructure of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet of (a) Scheme A and (b) Scheme B.
Figure 6. Influence of two-step heating methods on microstructure of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet of (a) Scheme A and (b) Scheme B.
Coatings 11 00164 g006
Coatings 11 00164 g007a 550Coatings 11 00164 g007b 550
Figure 7. Influence of two-step heating methods on the 3D surface topography of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet of (a) Scheme A and (b) Scheme B.
Figure 7. Influence of two-step heating methods on the 3D surface topography of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet of (a) Scheme A and (b) Scheme B.
Coatings 11 00164 g007aCoatings 11 00164 g007b
Coatings 11 00164 g008 550
Figure 8. Three-step heating methods of (a) theoretical thermal history and (b) actual thermal history.
Figure 8. Three-step heating methods of (a) theoretical thermal history and (b) actual thermal history.
Coatings 11 00164 g008
Coatings 11 00164 g009 550
Figure 9. Influence of three-step heating methods on properties of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet of (a) Scheme A, (b) Scheme B, (c) Scheme C, and (d) Scheme D.
Figure 9. Influence of three-step heating methods on properties of Al–Si coating boron steel sheet of (a) Scheme A, (b) Scheme B, (c) Scheme C, and (d) Scheme D.
Coatings 11 00164 g009
Coatings 11 00164 g010a 550Coatings 11 00164 g010b 550
Figure 10. Influence of three-step heating methods on 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet of (a) Scheme A, (b) Scheme B, (c) Scheme C, and (d) Scheme D.
Figure 10. Influence of three-step heating methods on 3D surface topography of the Al–Si coating boron steel sheet of (a) Scheme A, (b) Scheme B, (c) Scheme C, and (d) Scheme D.
Coatings 11 00164 g010aCoatings 11 00164 g010b
Table
Table 1. Chemical compositions of the substrate in wt % [37].
Table 1. Chemical compositions of the substrate in wt % [37].
CSiMnNiCrMoTiVNbWCuB
0.240.221.490.0120.130.0050.030.0040.0130.0340.0090.002
Table
Table 2. EDS results of marked regions in the Al–Si coating under hot-dipped conditions.
Table 2. EDS results of marked regions in the Al–Si coating under hot-dipped conditions.
RegionsChemical Compositions in at %Intermetallic Compounds
FeAlSi
122.5664.9812.46Fe2Al7Si
233.3645.2121.43Fe3Al2Si3
325.6562.0812.27Fe2Al5
Table
Table 3. EDS results of intermetallic compounds in the Al–Si coating layers through different heat treatment methods.
Table 3. EDS results of intermetallic compounds in the Al–Si coating layers through different heat treatment methods.
Intermetallic CompoundsChemical Compositions in at %
FeAlSi
FeAl4.5Si15.8168.1316.06
Fe2Al7Si21.7369.678.6
Fe3Al2Si333.3645.2121.43
Fe2Al525.3560.9813.67
Table
Table 4. EDS analysis of intermetallic compounds in the Al–Si coating layers though different heat treatment methods.
Table 4. EDS analysis of intermetallic compounds in the Al–Si coating layers though different heat treatment methods.
Intermetallic CompoundsChemical Compositions in at %
FeAlSi
FeAl235.5561.363.09
32.5762.934.5
35.4362.621.95
Fe3Al2Si340.6538.5420.81
FeAl50.8240.179.01
46.4645.627.92
43.1545.381.47
α-Fe87.1911.341.47
Table
Table 5. Results of three-step heating methods.
Table 5. Results of three-step heating methods.
NumbersMean Thickness of the Al–Si CoatingMean Thickness of α-Fe PhaseVolume Fraction of α-Fe Phase Volume Fraction of Fe3Al2Si3 Intermetallic CompoundVolume Fraction of FeAl Intermetallic CompoundPorosity
A39.4 μm9.7 μm22.68%11.53%9.92%2.92%
B40.3 μm8.8 μm20.53%9.85%8.75%2.53%
C39.8 μm7.6 μm21.32%7.69%6.19%2.96%
D37.5 μm6.8 μm14.06%4.97%3.71%3.31%
Table
Table 6. Density values of the common FexAlySiz intermetallic compounds [27].
Table 6. Density values of the common FexAlySiz intermetallic compounds [27].
Intermetallic CompoundsDensity (g/cm3)
Fe2Al7Si3.58
Fe2Al8Si3.62
FeAl33.9
Fe2Al54.11
Fe3(AlSi)55.06
FeAl5.37
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Liang, W.; Duan, J.; Wang, Q.; Dong, J.; Liu, Q.; Lin, C.; Zhang, Y. Influence of Multi-Step Heating Methods on Properties of Al–Si Coating Boron Steel Sheet. Coatings 2021, 11, 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11020164

AMA Style

Liang W, Duan J, Wang Q, Dong J, Liu Q, Lin C, Zhang Y. Influence of Multi-Step Heating Methods on Properties of Al–Si Coating Boron Steel Sheet. Coatings. 2021; 11(2):164. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11020164

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liang, Weikang, Jinchang Duan, Qianting Wang, Junhao Dong, Qiong Liu, Chen Lin, and Yisheng Zhang. 2021. "Influence of Multi-Step Heating Methods on Properties of Al–Si Coating Boron Steel Sheet" Coatings 11, no. 2: 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11020164

APA Style

Liang, W., Duan, J., Wang, Q., Dong, J., Liu, Q., Lin, C., & Zhang, Y. (2021). Influence of Multi-Step Heating Methods on Properties of Al–Si Coating Boron Steel Sheet. Coatings, 11(2), 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11020164

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop