Application of combinatorial materials approach for fast screening of Zn-Al alloy films

A combinatorial method was used to deposit a Zn-Al material library on a low carbon steel substrate by ion beam sputtering. As-deposited film samples were annealed at varied heat treatment conditions to promote the diffusion between the elements for a through-thickness homogenous sample. XRD and EDS analyses were carried out for composition and structure, AFM and TEM images were obtained for morphology observation. Nanoindentation tests were conducted to investigate the mechanical behaviour of samples. Electrochemical corrosion properties of the Zn-Al material library were evaluated by a modified tape test. A relationship among composition-structural phase-property of Zn-Al alloy films was set up by the fast screening method. Results show that the Zn-Al film with a composition of about 30 at % Zn has either the best anti-corrosion property, or better mechanical property.