voestalpine Stahl AG (Linz, Austria):

Angeli G., Dr.
Fischer W., e-mail: wilhelm.fischer@voestalpine.com

Wupperman Stahl GmbH (Judenburg, Austria):
Brisberger R., Dr.

Ruukki Deutschland GmbH (Duisburg, Germany):
Bülter M., Dr.

ArcelorMittal France S.A. (Florange, France):
Diez L.

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG (Dortmund, Germany):
Filthaut Ch., Dr.
Schulz J.

Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH (Salzgitter, Germany):
Koll Th., Dr.

Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH (Salzgitter, Germany):
Maiwald T., Dr.

ArcelorMittal Maizières France S.A. (Maizières-lès-Metz, France):
Pesci C.

ArcelorMittal Bremen GmbH (Bremen, Germany):
Richter A., Dr.

Steel Institute VDEh (Düsseldorf, Germany):
Stellmacher U.

Tata Steel Europe (IJmuiden, Netherlands):

van Landschoot N., Dr.

Corrosion of zinc-magnesium-aluminium (ZM) coatings has been frequently tested over the last two decades. Practical experience in the construction sector confi rms their increased corrosion resistance. In the 2000s, European steel manufacturers started to apply this alloying concept to automotive applications. The respective independent research led to a new specific family of coating alloys whose properties and potential applications are presented. The leading European steel producers, such as ArcelorMittal, Ruukki, Salzgitter, Tata Steel, ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe, voestalpine Stahl and Wuppermann have united in this investigation and compared their innovations in the field of Zn-Mg coatings based on jointly developed testing catalogue used in automotive industry. It was revealed that Zn-Mg-Al coatings containing 1.0–3.0% (mass.) of Mg and 1.0–3.7% (mass.) of Alin their phase area are quite alike. It is shown that Zn-Mg coatings have displayed principally better results in corrosion tests compared with conventional Zn coatings after continuous galvanizing (nevertheless type of samples). Additionally, Zn-Mg coatings are characterized by better behaviour in deep drawing. It is concluded that flat rolled metal with Zn-Mg, coatings presented by the leading European steel producers can be considered as the new generation of such products providing essential savings in automotive industry.

1. Prosek, T.; Thiery, D.; Persson, D.; Stoulil, J.: Corrosion products formed on Zn-Mg, Zn-Al and Zn-Al-Mg coatings in model atmospheric conditions, Proc. 8^th Intern. Conf. on Zinc and Zinc Alloy Coated Steel Sheet (Galvatech 2011), Genua, Italien, 21.–24. Juli 2011.
2. LeBozecl, N.; Thierry, D.; Peltola, A.; Luxem, L.; Luckeneder, G.; Marchiaro, G.; Rohwerder, M.: Corrosion performance of Zn-Mg-Al coated steel in accelerated corrosion tests used in the automotive industry and field exposures, Materials and Corrosion, Online, ISSN: 1521-4176.
3. Zink-Magnesium-Aluminium Coatings for Auto motive Industry, Stahl institut VDEh, Düsseldorf, 2013.