Influence of the topography of zinc coated sheet on the results of electron probe microanalysis

As far as possible, electron probe microanalyses (EPMA) must be carried out on optimally smooth surfaces. When analyzing technical surfaces with a roughness resulting from the rolling or coating process, EPMA results are biased, which has consequences especially when determining element mass layer in the detection limit area. This effect was tested and a corrective process was developed on electrolytically galvanized and hot-dip galvanized steel sheet of varying roughness.