Fundamentals in the adhesion of PVD ZnMg-coatings for the next generation steels

The STW HTM research project “Fundamentals in the Adhesion of Physical Vapor Deposited (PVD) ZnMg-coatings for the Next Generation Steels” is driven by the desire of Tata Steel Europe to develop PVD continuously coated strip as a breakthrough technology for depositing anti-corrosion ZnMg coatings on NGS strip. It aims at understanding how the adhesion property of PVD ZnMg coatings on NGS is influenced by PVD including the subsequent thermal processes, and by the chemical composition and microstructure of the coating and substrates. These parameters will be used to predict the mechanical performance of substrate-coating systems during subsequent thermal and forming operations by micromechanical simulations. The ultimate goal is to solve the adhesion problem of novel PVD ZnMg-based multilayer coated NGS by optimizing the coating design and interface structure, and enhancing interfacial bonding through hybrid ion implantation and thermal activated intermetallic reactions, and/or by employing an adhesion interlayer.

Project leader & first supervisor

Prof. Dr. Yutao Pei

PhD student

Emad Galinmoghaddam, MSc

Second supervisor

Prof. Dr. Jeff Th.M. De Hosson