HOT DIP AND COLD

GALVANIZED

Por: Oscar Infante A.

Sales Manager & Composite Ltd.
HOT DIP GALVANIZED

Hot dip galvanizing has been used for over 100 years to protect steel from corrosion. The protective coating
produced by dipping steel products in a bath of molten zinc. The zinc film that forms on the steel protects in
two ways, barrier protection and galvanic protection (cathodic). It is this latter type of protection that allows
steel products to remain free of corrosion for decades. This is because moisture in the presence of zinc acts
as an anode and steel as a cathode, so that zinc corrodes in an act of sacrifice and prevents the steel from
rusting.

Barrier protection, such as paints, have the disadvantage that if the paint is broken in some way, steel will
rust in the paint area and allow the oxidation progress below the break. In the case of coating does not,
because if the galvanized layer is damaged, scratched or has discontinuities, adjacent to the steel zinc form
an insoluble salt of zinc on steel exposed. This bolstering the break and continues to protect the surface
against any corrosion.

Although the plating is extensively used in the manufacture of a wide variety of products that require
protection against corrosion, its main uses are in the structural steel used in public works and roads,
transmission and communications towers and structures in areas: Chemical, Construction , water treatment,
transportation, recreation, marine, agricultural, mining, etc.

Galvanizing has a number of advantages that cannot be found in other types of coatings.

- Low cost versus life

- Low level of corrosion
- coating metallurgically bonded to steel
- Easy to inspect
- High resistance to mechanical damage

GALVANIZED STEEL BEHAVIOUR

The life of a galvanized protective is determined primarily by the thickness of the coating and the severity of
exposure conditions.

These conditions include atmospheric environments industry is classified as highly, moderately industrial
(urban), suburban, rural and marine.

SEVERANCE PROTECTION BY ZINC THICKNESS AND TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE

THICKNESS OF ZINC IN MICRONS

10 20 33 43 53 66 76 86 96 106 119 129
TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE YEARS OF PROTECTION TO 5% OF THE SURFACE OXIDATION
RURAL 7 12 19 25 31 38 43 50 57 62 68 74
TROPICAL MARINE 5 10 15 20 24 29 33 39 43 48 53 58
TEMPERATE MARINE 4 9 13 17 21 26 30 35 39 43 48 51
SUBURBAN 3 6 10 14 18 21 24 29 32 36 40 42
MODERATE INDUSTRIAL 2 4 8 11 14 18 21 24 28 31 34 38
HEAVY INDUSTRIAL 1 2 4 7 9 11 13 15 15 19 21 22

In the corrosion of galvanized influenced by many factors. The following, within the broad classification of
atmospheric environments, are more influential.
COLD GALVANIZING
INTRODUCTION

Cold Galvanizing is a zinc coating applied on steel with gun, brush or roller. For this type of product has a
corrosion resistance equivalent to hot dip galvanizing requires a minimum dry film containing 95% zinc. It is
also necessary that the electrically conductive layer is only with these 2 features is able to protect steel
galvanically (cathodic protection).

Therefore these products must meet ASTM standards. Zinc-rich paints do not meet these standards and
cannot be considered for galvanic protection.

APPLICATIONS

The cold galvanizing is widely used for:

 Steel Structures
Applying cold galvanized a minimum thickness of 75 microns, achieves the same protection as
galvanized.

 Repair damaged galvanized

Is used to repair damaged galvanized welding, cutting, burning, shearing, etc.

 Regeneration of galvanized surfaces

Used to regenerate hot galvanized surfaces eroded by time.

 Protection of welds
The welds are susceptible to rust as the weld area has an electric potential different from the base
metal. Applying cold galvanized welded seams on and its surroundings, inhibits corrosion by
galvanic protection of these.

BASE METAL PRETREATMENT

It requires that the steel is free of rust and oil. This can be accomplished by mechanical cleaning with a wire
brush or sandblasting. Also depending on the situation chemical methods are used for cleaning.

POST GALVANIZED COATINGS

The cold galvanized allows the use of protective or decorative paints without any pretreatment. Paint can be
applied directly to the galvanized surface.

CONCLUSION

Cold galvanizing is an equivalent alternative to hot dip galvanized for resistance to corrosion. Can be used
for new structures or damaged galvanized, and can be easily applied on site by the user.

Is a valid alternative for those areas that are far from galvanizing plants or maintenance of structures in the
field.