Relationship between the Electrogalvanized Stages and the Income of Hydrogen in a Low Carbon Wire Steel

Hydrogenation of steel products in the electrochemical processes occurs to some extent in all stages of coating. The decisive contribution in the hydrogenation of steel is galvanized by itself, however, the influence of preliminary operations like degreasing and pickling also are considered as sources of hydrogen embrittlement. In the literature,numerousprevious studies are aimed on the effect of deformation on the corrosion behavior of zinc coating, however limited to the specific treatment of corrosion properties leaving aside the possible hydrogen trapping. Embrittlement can occur when hydrogen is released during etching process, absorbed by the steel and being trapped at the grain boundaries, dislocations, interfaces inclusion / matrix, etc. Normally, at galvanizing temperatures, hydrogen is expelled from steel. But, in some cases as in electrogalvanizing, hydrogen is absorbed in the steel.Thispaperaimsto assess the main variables in the pickling and electrogalvanizing in order to optimize the coating procedure which avoids the possible hydrogen entry into the steel. Besides, somethermal properties of the coatings obtained are discussed.