ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | OCTOBER 2025 19 was manually removed for subsequent lab examination (Fig. 11). The sample was examined at higher magnifications using scanning electron micro- scopy (SEM), and the elemental composition of the deposits on the strand was checked using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). SEM examination of the strand sample revealed deposits on its surface. Elemental composition of these deposits was analyzed through EDS, with results showing significant variations (Fig. 12). Deposits primarily consist of carbon, oxygen, sodium, aluminum, silicon, potassium, iron, and zinc. Weight percentages for these elements in the deposits were as follows: C (6.19%), O (40.18%), Na (4.02%), Al (1.79%), Si (2.08%), K (0.39%), Fe (12.73%), and Zn (32.61%). Elemental composition of the strand surface itself showed a Fig. 12 — EDS data clearly shows that the surface of the strand has elemental composition similar to the intermetallic phase on the galvanized steel surface and the oxides of zinc, which suggests the temperature was not high enough to melt the zinc and leave only the steel surface. EDS data of the deposits is similar to soot and fly ash. Fig. 13 — SEM image shows cross-section of strand considered for examination at higher magnification. slightly different distribution with iron at 44.70%, zinc at 36.89%, and oxygen at 17.28%, suggesting that the deposits are predominantly composed of soot and fly ash. EDS data clearly indicate that the strand surface has an elemental composition similar to the intermetallic phase found on the galvanized steel surface and the oxides of zinc. This suggests that the temperature during Fig. 14 — SEM examination confirms the presence of a galvanized layer on the strand surface. Microstructure consists of martensite. Strand surface Deposits from wildfire Galvanized layer Carbon steel
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