Hydrogen Solubility Effects in Galvanized Advanced High Strength Steels

Advanced high strength steels used in automotive body and structure applications are exposed to hydrogen during several steps of their processing. For galvanized sheet steel, one of these is the continuous galvanizing process, during which the sheet is prepared for coating in a H₂-N₂ furnace. This paper shows the relationship between hydrogen uptake in DP600 and DP980 grades, together with an IF steel control composition, and galvanizing process conditions. Hydrogen uptake is strongly dependent on the furnace atmosphere and the amount of martensite in the steel but has little dependence on the soaking time, the humidity of the furnace atmosphere, or the temperature within the usual intercritical annealing range. Rapid outgassing was observed during overageing prior to the zinc dipping. Slow strain rate tests showed that there was no loss of ductility in galvanized samples that had been treated in a 5% H₂ atmosphere or that had been overaged before the galvanizing.