Effect of alloying element segregation on the work of adhesion of metallic coating on metallic substrate: Application to zinc coatings on steel substrates

►A thermodynamic model is developed to assess the adherence of metallic coatings on metallic substrates. ►P, Ni, Mo, V, Ti and Nb are predicted to enhance the zinc coating adhesion to steel, whereas Bi, Sn and Mg weaken the adhesion. ►Cracking behavior of the zinc coating on the steel agrees the theoretical prediction.