Effect of surface texture of steel sheets on the crystal orientation relationship between zinc and iron on electrogalvanized steel sheets

This study investigates the effect of surface texture on the crystal orientation relation between Fe and Zn on steel sheets. The Zn was deposited onto Al-killed and IF steel sheets in an agitated sulfate solution at 313K (under deposition conditions of 1500 A·m2 and 1.48 104 C·m2). Chemically polishing the steel simplifies the epitaxial deposition of Zn by decreasing the strain on the steel surface. For Zn deposited on polished Al-killed steel, the Burgers' orientation relation {110}Fe//{0001}Zn was observed. In this case, the {111}Fe orientation was increased while the {0001}Zn orientation was reduced. In contrast, when Zn was deposited on IF steel, the preferred relation was {111}Fe//{0001}Zn. Because IF steel has a larger crystal-grain size than Al-killed steel, the epitaxial growth of Zn is easier on IF steel than on Al-killed steel. Meanwhile, the {111}Fe orientation was more prominent on IF steel than on Al-killed steel. Thus, the orientation relationship {111}Fe//{0001}Zn is probably driven by the enhanced {111}Fe orientation. The strain, crystal orientation, and grain size of the steel influenced the orientation relation between the deposited Zn and steel, and hence the crystal orientation of the deposited Zn.