Characterization of vitreous enamel–steel interface by using hot stage ESEM and nano-indentation techniques

In this study, phase transformation of the vitreous enamel and the interface steel–enamel during firing was analyzed. The thermal transformation of vitreous coating on steel was observed “in situ” with an environmental scanning electron microscopy and the mechanical properties of the steel–enamel interface were studied by using a nano-indenter. The interface reactions and the resulting structure can strongly influence the adhesion mechanism between glass coatings and the metal substrate. An in-depth investigation and structural characterization was therefore performed to define the correlation between interface morphology and the final chemical and mechanical properties of the enamel–steel interface.