ELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY STUDIES OF THE STEEL ENAMEL INTERFACE/

Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain the adherence of ena mels on steel but it is generally believed that chemical bonding is th e essential factor for strong adherence. To achieve this condition, th e oxide in a low valence state is generally considered to be completel y dissolved by the molten glass, with the steel-enamel bond formed by a single phase. In this work an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analy sis of the steel/enamel interface is presented. The behavior of two di fferent samples at two firing temperatures (900 and 920 degrees C) was examined and the presence of fayalite as an interface layer was confi rmed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.