Effect of the presence of alloying elements in interstitial-free and low-carbon steels on their surface composition after annealing in reducing atmospheres (dew point = -30°C)

The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) method is used to study the outer surfaces of interstitial-free (IF) and low-carbon (LC) steels with different alloying element contents (P, Ti, Nb, and Mn) after annealing at temperatures of 850 degreesC and 705 degreesC, respectively, for 40 seconds in reducing atmospheres (dew point = -30 degreesC). The work discussed seeks to establish possible relationships between the bulk composition of the IF and LC steels and the contents of segregated alloying element observed by XPS on the surface of the annealed steels, as well as to establish the influence of the presence of a thin iron oxide film on the steel surface on the segregation and oxidation of the alloying elements. Despite the low Mn and Si bulk steel contents and the shortness of the annealing cycle, considerable enrichment of these elements on the surface is seen, mainly as manganese and silicon oxides. The formation of a MnO layer on the annealed steel surface seems to be related to the reduction of iron oxides and the increase in the metallic Fe content. Despite its low content in LC steels, carbon also seems to diffuse towards the annealed steel surface to reduce iron oxides.