Interface characteristics and corrosion behaviour of oriented bulk Fe2B alloy in liquid zinc

• The as-received microstructure of bulk Fe2B comprises iron and silicon borides.
• The orientation of Fe2B in liquid zinc strongly affects on corrosion resistance.
• The Fe2B/FeB phase transition process of bulk Fe2B in liquid zinc occurs.
• Phase transition and spalling dominate corrosion of Fe2B in liquid zinc.

The interface characteristics and corrosion behaviour of oriented Fe2B in liquid zinc have been investigated. The results indicate that Fe2B with preferential growth direction parallel to corrosion interface displays better corrosion resistance to liquid zinc. The Fe2B/FeB phase transition occurs due to gradient of chemical potential in solid Fe2B–liuqid zinc system. The liquid zinc corrosion is competition process of dissolution, Fe2B/FeB transition and fracture–spalling. The fracture–spalling dominates corrosion process when preferred direction of Fe2B is perpendicular to corrosion interface while Fe2B/FeB transition plays a role in liquid zinc corrosion as preferred direction of Fe2B is parallel to corrosion interface.