Effect of Scale Spallation During Coiling on the Electrochemical and Pickling Behavior of a Hot-Rolled Dual-Phase Steel

Tertiary oxide scale consists of magnetite and hematite, and in dual-phase steel strips were observed after the exit of final rolling stand in a thin slab casting rolling (TSCR) mill. Microscopic observation confirmed that these scales cracked and spalled off from many places of surface during coiling causing a non-uniform oxide layer on the steel surface. The present work discusses the synergistic effect of such non-uniform oxide layer and run-out-table cooling water on the electrochemical behavior of the dual-phase steel. The electrochemical response was assessed with the help of dynamic and linear polarization tests considering cooling water as electrolyte. The presence of non-uniform scale produced high cathodic (scaled zone) to anodic (spalled-off zone) area ratio that eventually led to extensive pitting corrosion in the present steel. Furthermore, the pickling behavior of the steel was also studied in detail. It was observed that the steel surface, with spalled-off area of about one-tenth of total surface area, corroded preferentially 3-4 times faster at spalled-off area than that of the uniformly pickled surface. The characterization study was performed using scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser 3D scanning microscopy, x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy in order to establish the reasons for pitting corrosion due to the scale spallation.