You must have heard the term galvanised steel coil several times. However, have you ever wondered what exactly galvanised steel coils are? What is its use? In order to understand galvanised steel better, this guide explains what is galvanised steel, methods of making galvanising, benefits and applications.
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Galvanised steel, after all, is used in several corrosion-resistant items such as nuts and bolts, or pipes, even balconies and staircases. So, whether you are a seller or buyer of galvanised steel, this article will help you learn more about the type of steel for your business.
Also read: What is galvanised steel?
Galvanising is process in which a protective coat of zinc is applied to steel. So, galvanised steel coils are steel sheets with zinc coating. This application of the zinc coat makes coils durable as it protects the coil from rusting. The coil is available in different sizes and grades as per the use/requirement.
So, why coat steel? What does the galvanisation achieve? Here are the advantages of using galvanised steel. When you use it in your project, depending on the application, here is what you can achieve.
1. Protection: Galvanised coating is considered as one of the toughest coatings available in the market. It offers protection offers resistance from mechanical damage that may happen during transit or erection of the structure. Additionally, it protects steel from rust and corrosion. Adding into it, it is suitable for all weather conditions, so weather change does not affect the steel.
2.Durability: Since it protects steel from rust, corrosion, and weather conditions, chances of steel getting damaged are lesser. This results in longer life span.
3.Low-maintenance: Galvanised steel parts and structures need low maintenance. As a result, your efforts on maintenance are saved.
4.Cost-efficient: The initial cost of galvanised steel may be high. However, you save on maintenance and repair cost as it is a low-maintenance product. Additionally, coating offers durability. Therefore, it turns out to be cost effective in longer run.
Galvanised steel finds use in various applications. Here are few of them.
1. Construction: Galvanised steel coils are mainly used in the construction industry. Mostly builders use these coils in roofing as it does not rust or corrode. It is also used as a protector for ridges and valleys in the roofing solution. Additionally, galvanised steel coils are also used in outdoor applications. It is used for building steel frames, balconies, and other indoor applications too.
2. Manufacturing: Galvanised steel is also used to in the industrial environment to make various smaller parts. Another use includes tanks. Tanks made from galvanised steel coils are used to store non-corrosive materials.
3. Other applications: Apart from above mentioned uses, galvanised steel coils are used in various other industries such as automotive, electric equipment, etc. In fact, galvanised steel plays a key role in the automotive industry.
Also Read on:
Aluminium Coil, Hot rolled steel coil, Colour coated steel coil, Stainless steel coil.
How to procure galvanised steel at an affordable rate?
All leading steel manufacturers offer galvanised steel coils as per your requirement. You can source them from your preferred vendor.
Alternatively, Tata nexarc also helps you to procure raw material. On Tata nexarc’s Procurement, you can buy steel coils, sheets, galvanised steel and more at an affordable price.
Methods of galvanising steel coils
The steps in the galvanizing process are as follows:
What are the advantages of galvanized steel?
Many different industries utilize galvanized steel primarily because it has such a wide array of benefits for industries to take advantage of, including having:
Low initial cost compared to most treated steels. In addition, galvanized steel is immediately ready to use when delivered. It does not require additional preparation of the surface, inspections, painting/coatings, etc. sparing companies more costs on their end.
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Longer life. With galvanization, a piece of industrial steel is expected to last more than 50 years in average environments, and can last over 20 years with severe water exposure. There is no maintenance required. The increased durability of the steel’s finished product also increases the product’s reliability.
The sacrificial anode ensures that any damaged steel is protected by the surrounding zinc coating. It doesn’t matter if the steel section is completely exposed; the zinc will still corrode first. The coating will corrode preferentially to the steel, creating a sacrificial protection to the areas that are damaged.
Rust resistance from the zinc coating. The iron elements in steel are incredibly prone to rusting, but the addition of zinc acts as a protective buffer between the steel and any moisture or oxygen. Galvanized steel is very protective, including sharp corners and recesses that couldn’t be protected with other coatings, making it resistant to damage.
Different methods of galvanizing
As stated above, there are several different processes for galvanizing steel.
Hot-Dip Galvanizing
The first and foremost method for galvanization is hot-dip galvanizing. The process is very similar to what the name suggests! In this method, steel or iron is dipped in a molten pool of zinc that maintains a temperature of around 860°F (460 °C). This molten bath begins a metallurgical bond between the zinc and the receiving metal. After the metal is pulled from the bath, it reacts to being exposed to the atmosphere, and the pure zinc mixes with oxygen to form zinc oxide. The zinc-oxide further reacts to carbon dioxide and forms zinc carbonate, which makes up the final protective coating on the material. The tell-tale sign of a hot-dipped galvanized material is the presence of a crystalline-like pattern on the surface, sometimes referred to as “spangle.”
The hot-dipped galvanizing method is an economical choice that can be quickly executed on both simple and complex shapes.
The new coated material can be worked and machined in a similar fashion to uncoated materials. Galvanized steel can be used in high-temperature applications up to 392 °F, but use in temperatures exceeding that level will cause the zinc-carbonate layer to peel off.
Galvannealing
Galvannealing is the outcome of combining the annealing and hot-dip galvanizing processes in order to produce a specialized coating on steel. The process of galvanization is performed via hot-dipping and instantaneous annealing, which produces a matte gray finish.
Galvannealed steel is a zinc-iron alloy product, where the base metal is coated by the hot-dip process, then heated to induce alloying between the molten zinc coating and the steel. The resulting finish is a dull matte surface. Galvannealed steel is conducive to welding and the surface is excellent for paint adhesion.
Pre-galvanizing
Also similar to the hot-dip galvanizing method, but performed at the very first stage of production. Pre-galvanizing is a process that involves rolling the sheet metal through a cleaning agent to quickly prime material for galvanizing. Then, the metal is passed through a pool of molten liquid zinc and is immediately recoiled. The primary advantage of this method is that coils of steel sheet can be rapidly galvanized on a large scale with a more unified coating than the traditional hot-dipped method.
Electrogalvanizing
The most unique of these outlined methods, electrogalvanizing does not involve dipping the material in a molten vat of zinc. Instead, an electric current is introduced to an electrolyte solution that is applied to the steel, which reduces positively charged zinc ions to zinc metal – which is then deposited on the positively charged steel. Like pre-galvanizing, this method is typically done at the first stage of production.
Galvanizing advanced high-strength steel
For more information about the galvanization process for advanced high-strength steel, as well as our partner National Galvanizing, please click here.
What industries utilize galvanized steel?
Galvanized metals are used everywhere!
The bodies of cars and many bicycles are made from galvanized metals. Some drinking water pipes are still made from galvanized steel. Cool rolled sheet metal is also frequently galvanized. Nuts, bolts, tools, and wires of all kinds are now galvanized because it is a cheap process, and helps boost the metal’s lifespan!
Galvanized steel, in particular, is often what is used in modern “steel frame” buildings. Galvanized steel is also used to create structures like balconies, verandahs, staircases, ladders, walkways, and more. Galvanized metal is the ideal choice if your project will live outside after it’s done. Fences, roofs, outdoor walkways, these are all great choices for galvanized metal!
Well, there you have it! With our partner Heidtman Steel, National Galvanizing runs a 245,000-square-foot facility, featuring pickling, galvanizing, galvannealing, and slitting, all in one location, convenient to major markets. This combination of capabilities provides our customers with unparalleled responsiveness to meet the ever-changing demands of today’s market.
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