Effect of rare earth lanthanum-cerium doping on corrosion behavior of zinc-aluminum-magnesium hot-dip galvanizing coatings used for transmission towers

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to improve the corrosion resistance of the transmission towers by Zinc-aluminum-magnesium (Zn-Al-Mg) coatings doped with rare earths lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) (denoted as Zn-Al-Mg-Re) in Q345 steel.

Design/methodology/approach

The phase structure of Zn-Al-Mg-Re composite coatings has been determined by X-ray diffraction, whereas their surface morphology and cross-sectional microstructure as well as cross-sectional elemental composition have been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of Zn-Al-Mg-Re composite coatings has been evaluated by acetic acid accelerated salt spray test of copper strip.

Findings

Experimental results show that doping with La and Ce favors to tune the composition (along with the generation of new phase, such as LaAl₃ or Al₁₁Ce₃) and refine the microstructure of Zn-Al-Mg galvanizing coatings, thereby significantly improving the corrosion resistance of the coatings. Particularly, Zn-Al-Mg-Re with 0.15% (mass fraction) La exhibits the best corrosion resistance among the tested galvanizing coatings.

Originality/Value

Zinc-aluminum-magnesium (Zn-Al-Mg) coatings doped with rare earths lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) (denoted as Zn-Al-Mg-Re) have been prepared on Q345 steel substrate by hot-dip galvanizing so as to improve the corrosion resistance of the transmission towers, and to understand the corrosion inhibition of the Zn-Al-Mg-Re coating.

Citation

Han, Y., Xia, Y., Chen, X., Sun, L., Liu, D. and Ge, X. (2018), "Effect of rare earth lanthanum-cerium doping on corrosion behavior of zinc-aluminum-magnesium hot-dip galvanizing coatings used for transmission towers", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 65 No. 2, pp. 131-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-01-2017-1750