Theoretical model of the interfacial reactions between solid iron and liquid zinc-aluminium alloy

Steel strip is often coated with a layer of zinc in order to protect it against corrosion. One of the most commonly used coating processes is continuous hot dip galvanizing. In this process, the steel strip is immersed in a molten zinc bath containing small amounts of aluminium (less than 1 wt%). A model has been developed describing the kinetics of the galvanizing reactions that occur at the steel/liquid zinc interface (dissolution of iron, heterogeneous nucleation and growth of the intermetallic phase designated Fe2Al5Znx ). The model has been validated using experimental data available in the literature for a classical galvanizing treatment that lasts three seconds. C 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.