Comparison of the Tribological Properties of the Thermal Diffusion Zinc Coating to the Classic and Heat Treated Hot-Dip Zinc Coatings

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Tribology
• Surface Engineering

Background:

• Steel coatings are crucial for corrosion and wear resistance.
• Thermal diffusion (TD) zinc coatings offer an alternative to traditional hot-dip (HD) galvanizing.
• Understanding the impact of substrate preparation on coating performance is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the wear resistance and friction coefficient of TD zinc coatings on steel.
• To determine how the basis metal's preparation method influences coating properties during dry friction.
• To compare TD coating performance with heat-treated and untreated HD zinc coatings.

Main Methods:

• Industrial deposition of TD zinc coatings on steel discs (EN ISO 17668:2016-04).
• Tribological testing using a T11 pin-on-disc tester.
• Analysis via optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDS analysis, and microhardness measurements.

Main Results:

• TD zinc coating properties showed similarities to heat-treated HD zinc coatings.
• Steel surface preparation significantly altered the coating's hardness.
• Variations in surface preparation led to changes in the friction coefficient and wear resistance of the TD zinc coating.

Conclusions:

• The method of initial steel surface preparation is a critical factor influencing the tribological behavior of TD zinc coatings.
• TD zinc coatings exhibit performance characteristics comparable to heat-treated HD coatings.
• Optimizing steel substrate preparation can enhance the wear resistance and friction properties of TD zinc coatings.