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Abstract
The occurrence of zinc whisker growth following the heat treatment of bright acid zinc electroplated steel has been reported in this study. The effects of such whisker growth beneath chromate conversion coatings, applied to zinc surfaces for increased corrosion performance, were also studied. In this investigation, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEGSEM) showed that bright acid zinc electroplated steel exposed at 150°C for 1 h promoted zinc whisker growth. Furthermore, the whiskers were able to penetrate chromate conversion coatings. Cross-sectional images of a protruding zinc whisker associated feature, using focused ion beam (FIB) electron microscopy, did not establish a clear grain pattern within the subject or surrounding electrodeposit.