Aluminized Steel - Processing

Processing

Aluminized steel can be made using a variety of processes, cladding,hot dipping, galvanic coating, metallizing, and calorizing, but the most effective process is hot dipping. The process of hot dipping starts by cleaning the steel, then placing the steel in a bath of Al-11%Si at a temperature of 988K and shaken, then pulled out and air dried. The aluminum diffuses into the steel, creating an intermetallic layer above the steel base layer, but below the outside aluminum coating. The aluminum coating is oxidized to help protect the inner steel from corrosion and further aluminum diffusion. The silicon is added to the aluminum bath to create a thinner layer of aluminum on the steel. The hot dipping process is cheaper and more effective to produce aluminized steel than any other process.