Abstract: The invention relates to a method for applying a protective coating (10) to a flat steel product (100), wherein the protective coating (10) is produced by guiding the flat steel product (100) having a strip entry temperature of 400-490 degrees Celsius through a molten zinc alloy bath. The molten zinc alloy bath (11) has a bath temperature of 400-480 degrees Celsius and contains an aluminum fraction and a magnesium fraction. In particular, the molten zinc alloy bath (11) has the following composition: the aluminum fraction is in the range between 1.8 and 3.0 weight percent; the magnesium fraction is in the range between 1.3 and 2.7 weight percent; the aluminum fraction in weight percent is greater than the magnesium fraction in weight percent; the ratio of the magnesium fraction in weight percent to the sum of the aluminum fraction in weight percent and the magnesium fraction in weight percent is in the range between 0.31 and 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for applying a protective coating (10) to a flat steel product (100), wherein the protective coating (10) is produced by guiding the flat steel product (100) having a strip entry temperature of 400-490 degrees Celsius through a molten zinc alloy bath. The molten zinc alloy bath (11) has a bath temperature of 400-480 degrees Celsius and contains an aluminum fraction and a magnesium fraction. In particular, the molten zinc alloy bath (11) has the following composition: the aluminum fraction is in the range between 1.8 and 3.0 weight percent; the magnesium fraction is in the range between 1.3 and 2.7 weight percent; the aluminum fraction in weight percent is greater than the magnesium fraction in weight percent; the ratio of the magnesium fraction in weight percent to the sum of the aluminum fraction in weight percent and the magnesium fraction in weight percent is in the range between 0.31 and 0.

Abstract: A method is shown for surface-treating a protectively coated substrate (1), more particularly steel strip, for the purpose of enhancing the strength of adhesion with an adhesive (10), where the at least partly multi-phase protective coat (2) comprises at least zinc and magnesium. In order to provide a particular suitability for adhesive bonding, it is proposed that the protective coat (2) be subjected to a pickling treatment, directed substantially at at least one intermetallic Zn—Mg phase (4) of the protective coat (2), with acidic pickle, more particularly acid.