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Received: August 25, 2023; Revised: September 14, 2023; Accepted: September 15, 2023
Abstract: In the present study, effects of a thin Zn-flash coating on hydrogen evolution, infusion, and embrittlement of advanced high strength steel during electro-galvanizing were examined. The electrochemical permeation technique in conjunction with impedance spectroscopy was employed under applied cathodic polarization. Moreover, a slow-strain rate test was conducted to evaluate loss of elongation (i.e., indicative of hydrogen embrittlement (HE)) and examine fracture surfaces. Results showed that the presence of a thin Zn-flash coating, even when it was not distributed uniformly, reduced hydrogen evolution rate and substantially impeded infusion of hydrogen into the steel substrate. This was primarily due to a hydrogen overvoltage on Zn coating and trapping of hydrogen at the interface of Zn coating/flash coating/steel substrate. Consequently, the sample with flash coating had a smaller HE index than the sample without flash coating. These results suggest that a thin Zn-flash coating could be an effective technical strategy for mitigating HE in advanced high-strength steels.