Hetero-epitaxial growth of zinc electrodeposits on low-carbon steel sheets

Abstract

Crystallographic aspects of the electrodeposition of zinc on low-carbon steel sheets have been examined with particular emphasis on the hetero-epitaxy. The hetero-epitaxial growth of zinc crystals largely depends on the surface condition of the ferrite substrate and occurs even at a current density as high as 2 A cm⁻² by reducing the surface oxidation layer. The surface roughness of the substrate induces local disturbance in hetero-epitaxial growth. The orientation relationship between zinc crystals and the ferrite substrate can be interpreted in terms of the minimum misfit atomic arrangements between both phases.