coating_defects_origins_and_remedies.pdfVIP

Coating Defects: Origins and Remedies N.-Y. Tang and F.N. Coady Cominco Ltd., Product Technology Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Coating Defects: Origins and Remedies N.-Y. Tang and F.N. Coady Cominco Ltd., Product Technology Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Abstract Although the science and technology of continuous galvanizing have improved significantly over the years, it is still a challenge to produce defect-free coatings. Studies indicate that poor substrate surface quality, insufficient strip cleaning, mechanical damage to the substrate surface due to handling, and inadequate process control are the main causes of coating defects. The recent introduction of high strength steels makes the production of galvanized coatings for applications such as exposed autobody panels even more challenging. To produce high quality zinc-coated strip, galvanizers need to improve quality control of the incoming strip as well as the continuous galvanizing process. Coating Defects: Origins and Remedies N.-Y. Tang and F.N. Coady Introduction The surface quality of continuously galvanized coatings has improved significantly in recent years, enabling these coatings to replace electro-galvanized (EG) coatings in applications of exposed automotive body panels. However, galvanizers capable of producing such coatings are limited in number because the requirement of coating surface quality is extremely stringent. Any tiny blemish on the coating surface is objectionable for exposed automotive applications. The origins of coating defects can vary widely. The