Evolution of the Spectral Emissivity and Phase Transformations of the Al-Si Coating on Usibor^® 1500P Steel During Austenitization

Usibor^® 1500P coupons are austenitized in a Gleeble 3500 thermomechanical simulator using a two-step heating procedure in an argon atmosphere. Variations in spectral emissivity are measured in-situ using a near infrared spectrometer and ex situ with a Fourier transform infrared reflectometer. Microstructural evolution and surface roughness are investigated using optical microscopy, FE-scanning electron microscopy, and a surface profilometer. A series of phase transformations of Al-Fe-Si intermetallic phases at the coating/steel substrate interface cause the surface phase and surface roughness to change, which in turn influences the spectral emissivity. At the beginning of the first heating step, the coupons have very low spectral emissivity, due to the molten Al-Si coating. Spectral emissivity increases significantly with increasing soak time from 5 to 12 minutes, associated with the surface phase transformation of the coating into Al₇Fe₂Si intermetallic phase and an increase in surface roughness. Through the second step heating at 1173 K (900 °C), the spectral emissivity shows a gradually decreasing trend with increasing soak time, caused by the surface phase transformation from Al₅Fe₂ into AlFe intermetallic phase with a decrease in surface roughness.