Experience with a pilot plant for the electrodeposition of Zn-Mn on wire

The electrochemical engineering and operation of a pilot plant for the electrodeposition of Zn-Mn alloys is described in this paper. The time-averaged current density (hence ed.) distribution on the wire and the time evolution of the bath composition are modelled and compared with experiment Electrodeposition experiments were performed at different cds on several hundred meters of steel wire; the composition of the coatings as a function of ed. is predicted with a simple electrochemical model, also taking into account mass transport at the wire, and compared with experiment. Structural and functional properties of the coatings were studied, some effects of drawing on the coating properties were measured The surface morphology of Zn-Mn coatings on steel wires was studied by SEM, their crystallographic structure was investigated by XRD and their in-depth composition by AES. Corrosion resistance in neutral and alkaline solutions and corrosion effects on tensile properties of the coated steel wire were measured.