Effect of the Surface Oxidation on the Hot-dip Zinc Galvanizing of Cast Iron Wpływ Powierzchniowego Utleniania Na Efekty Cynkowania Ogniowego Żeliwa

In presented work authors analyzed the high-temperature oxidation process from the point of view of its influence on effects obtained during cast iron hot-dip zinc coating. Research concerned the influence of the high-temperature oxidation, as a preliminary stage previous to coating with zinc on the change of surface layer structure as well as subsurface layer of cast iron with flake, vermicular and nodular graphite. To obtain proper results of Zn coating the special chemical etching of cast iron after oxidation is necessary. The effects were compared to these obtained during cast iron coating without preliminary thermal processing. To comparative analysis both optical and scanning microscope, RTG measurement and profile measurement gauge results were applied. As a consequence of conducted high-temperature oxidation in subsurface layer of cast iron pores have been created, that in result of coating in liquid zinc were filled with new phase and in this way the new zone with different properties was obtained. It was additionally stated that the cast iron layer enriched in zinc is considerably thicker than layers got with application of other methods. Thickness of sub-surface layer where “after-graphite“ pores are filled with zinc depends directly on the kind of graphite. When the flake and vermicular/compacted graphite is observed depth of penetration reaches 120 μm, whereas in nodular cast iron it reaches only 15μm, although sometimes single voids filled with zinc are observed at 75μm depth.