What is Galvanizing?
A Zinc galvanizing is the traditional and best method of preventing steel from rusting. The products are dipped in a bath of molten zinc. The zinc metallurgically bonds with the steel – not merely coating it like zinc plating or painted primers – forming a corrosion resistant, maintenance free product. For further technical information, please visit www.galvanizing.org.
A process by which zinc is coated over corrosive metals is known as galvanizing. The galvanizing process is actually a method of coating corrosive metals, such as steel and iron, with a non-corrosive metal. Zinc is melted and applied, usually via what’s known as a hot dip, to the metal, providing a coating of corrosion protection from one mil to just over four mils thick. When cured, the zinc, through reaction with the coated metal, becomes zinc carbonate. The galvanizing process not only prevents corrosion of various “soft” metals, but adds to the strength of the original, uncoated metal. Obviously, galvanized metal is thicker than uncoated metal, thus fittings and fastenings are generally measured with the additional galvanizing mil specs in mind. Various American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications provide guidelines and continuity for the thickness of galvanized metals. Galvanization of nails and screws is the most common method of preventing the unsightly stain
At times during the Civil War, prisoners of war were offered freedom from prison in exchange for service in the captor’s army under the condition that they would not bear arms against their own countrymen. These soldiers were referred to as galvanizers. This occurred most frequently out West with Southern soldiers galvanizing as Federal in order to protect the frontier settlers from hostile Indians. In re-enacting, galvanizing is a term used to describe fighting for the opposing side in order to make the troop numbers look more realistic at a given event. Typically, it’s the Confederate units who don “the blue suit” in order to beef up the Yankee ranks. However, at some places, it is the reverse.
Galvanizing is a simple process of corrosion protection consisting of dipping steel into a bath of molten zinc to produce a non-oxidising zinc-iron alloy layer on the surface. It is probably the most economic, efficient and pollution-free process available to protect steel against corrosion. The steel which has been cleaned of grease, paint and other contaminants, is immersed in the molten zinc which has been heated to around 450 degrees centigrade. The zinc reacts with the surface of the steel to form a progressive and highly corrosion-resistant zinc-iron alloy coating. This is metallurgical bonded layer that becomes an integral part of the steel making it extremely resistant to physical damage and rusting. The layers can actually be harder that mild steel, which gives the total coating a very tough and durable finish. The standard galvanize coating can have a typical maintenance free life of up to 50 years in rural areas and up to 25 year in urban/marine areas. The process is complet
