User Story

Microscopy Steel Analyses at Turkey’s Largest Galvanized Steel Producer

byZEISS Microscopy 16 May 2022 2 min read

Introduction

A long-term Test and Analysis Specialist at Borçelik shares their use of electron and optical microscopy on steel products

Through a joint venture with ArcelorMittal and Borusan, Borçelik is one of the largest galvanized steel producers of Turkey, offering some of the highest quality steel for the automotive, home appliances, construction and general metal industries.

Ömer Yıldırım is a seasoned Test and Analysis Specialist at Borçelik. For twenty-three years, he has worked with Borçelik in flat steel production processes and stages as well as defect analysis using both electron and optical microscopy. His work includes surface and cross-sectional analyses of hot rolled flat steel, cold rolled flat steel and coated flat steel, such as galvanized, enameled, and painted.

I investigate the reasons behind corrosion formation, identification of root causes behind defects and problems in flat steel processes. I also perform studies on new products in terms of R&D and innovation.

Ömer Yıldırım Test and Analysis Specialist, Borçelik, Turkey

FeO sphere
Steel grain structure
SiO layer structure
Spot welding zone
Molten zinc

FeO sphere formed on a flat steel surface imaged with ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM.

FeO sphere formed on a flat steel surface imaged with ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM.
Low carbon flat steel grain structure after etching with 4% Nital imaged with ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope.

Low carbon flat steel grain structure after etching with 4% Nital imaged with ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope.
$SiO layer fracture surface imaged with ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM.$

$SiO layer fracture surface imaged with ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM.$

SiO layer fracture surface imaged with ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM.

SiO layer fracture surface imaged with ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM.
Spot welding zone of galvanized flat steel plates imaged with ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope.

Spot welding zone of galvanized flat steel plates imaged with ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope.
Structure formed after pouring molten zinc into water, imaged using ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM

Structure formed after pouring molten zinc into water, imaged using ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM

Microscopy in Steel Production

From R&D to Quality Control to Customer Support

Mr. Yıldırım spends most of his work day using the ZEISS Sigma 300 field emission scanning electron microscope and the ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope for various analyses. Microscopy is critical for him to obtain highly valuable data in order to:

Support all R&D and innovation studies
Identify raw material quality problems and determine the root cause of these problems
Respond to customer complaints by examining their process parameters to help them troubleshoot problems

We are able to avoid significant financial losses through product controls by identifying raw material problems and making use of the findings discovered during customer complaints.

Ömer Yıldırım Test and Analysis Specialist, Borçelik, Turkey

Weld breakage
Zinc oxide
Ductile fracture
Zinc phosphate

Weld breakage due to insufficient current in laser welding, imaged ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope.

Weld breakage due to insufficient current in laser welding, imaged ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope.
ZnO under polymer coating after salt fog test, imaged using ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM

ZnO under polymer coating after salt fog test, imaged using ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM
$Sectional view of the ductile fracture due to thinning after elongation, imaged using ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope$

$Sectional view of the ductile fracture due to thinning after elongation, imaged using ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope$

Sectional view of the ductile fracture due to thinning after elongation, imaged using ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope

Sectional view of the ductile fracture due to thinning after elongation, imaged using ZEISS Axio Imager 2 optical microscope
Zinc phosphate, imaged using ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM

Zinc phosphate, imaged using ZEISS Sigma FE-SEM

Quality Images are Critical

High Quality and High Magnification Necessary for Thorough Analyses

It is critical that Mr. Yıldırım obtain high quality images in large magnifications for accurate analysis of his applications including cross-sectional analyses of micron thick coatings, identification of the chemical composition in coatings, and detailed surface and cross-sectional analyses.

Borçelik and ZEISS Microscopy

Efficient and Effective Integration into Business Processes

As the biggest galvanized steel producer with some of the highest quality available in Turkey, Borçelik’s goals include digital transformation, innovation, R&D and operational excellence. In order to achieve these targets, extremely caution is used in the selection of the products and tools we use. ZEISS microscopy technology has integrated efficiently and effectively into the Borçelik business processes.

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