Process for preparing Zn-Fe base alloy electroplated steel strips

A process for preparing a Zn-Fe base alloy electroplated steel strip by electroplating a steel strip with a Zn-Fe base alloy containing 10 to 30% by weight of iron to form a Zn-Fe base alloy plating having improved surface properties, characterized in that the electroplating is conducted in a chloride bath which contains zinc and ferrous ions in a total concentration of from 1.0 mol/l to the solubility limit with a weight ratio of Fe.sup.2+ /Zn.sup.2+ between 0.10 and 0.35, chloride ions in a total concentration of at least 6.0 mol/l, and 0.0005 to 0.05 mol/l of hypophosphorous acid or a salt thereof under electrolytic conditions:

• pH between 1.0 and 6.0, a current density between 80 and 200 A/dm.sup.2, and a relative flow velocity between 30 and 200 m/min., thereby depositing a Zn-Fe-P alloy plating.