ELOTOP – Influences of the electro-galvanizing process on the surface topography alterations

Situation:

• The roughness of zinc coated steel flat products is a very important regarding the deep drawing properties and the paintability.
• The roughness of electro-galvanized strips is set up by a skin pass rolling process of the substrate.
• In few cases, the substrate topography is changed by electro-galvanizing more than expected. These cases need extra effort.

Solution:

• Laboratory and in-plant trials to study the influences of the electro-galvanizing process on the surface topography
• Focusing on topography and steel grade of the primary material, process configuration and parameters, as well as composition of the electrolyte
• Developing of rules and models to predict the final roughness of the steel strip

Operational benefit:

• Identification of different parameters with measurable effect on roughness alteration
• Reasonably good description of roughness alteration by a multiple linear regression model

Broad knowledge base to increase process reliability

• Electro-galvanizing
• modelling
• roughness