For over a century, zinc has enhanced the longevity and performance of steel. Zinc coatings provide the most effective and economical way of protecting steel against corrosion which, left unchecked, is estimated to cost an industrialized country’s economy at least 4% of GDP each year. Zinc-coated or galvanized steel offers a unique combination of properties unmatched by any other material.
There are other zinc coating methods used to protect steel including zinc-rich paint, electro-statically (plated) applied zinc, and mechanically applied zinc. These methods of applying zinc to steel for corrosion protection are very different from galvanizing, and may be inappropriate for some situations and environmental exposures. For more information about the distinguishing characteristics of each zinc application method, view the publication Zinc Coatings.
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Hot dip galvanizing can provide long-term, maintenance-free corrosion protection in even the harshest of environments. An example of this is the marina and port installations at Arbon and Bottighofen in Switzerland. These two small towns are idyllically situated on the Southern shore of Lake Constance and are very popular with water sports enthusiasts.
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For years, children in a Chinese community divided by the River Po – a tributary of the Yellow River – had to cross the river on a precarious single-log bridge: built on pillars of straw, rock and earth. Among the many accidents, a mother and child were swept to their deaths on the journey to the school on the other side of the waterway from their homes.
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At 1,085 metres, this unique visitor centre is one of the highest building in the UK, responding to one of the most extreme climatic locations: the mountain endures facing winds of 120mph, temperatures that can go below -200C and 5 m of rain every year. The list of special design considerations for this unique project is endless - life cycle costs, building life, sustainable development and complex design considerations.
Download Case StudyMETALCON is the premier annual trade show and conference focused on the application of metal in residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and municipal construction.
View News ArticleThe American Galvanizers Association (AGA) have developed an online Life Cycle Cost Calculator for use in comparing the initial and life-cycle cost of hot-dip galvanizing to one of 30+ other corrosion protection systems.
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Galvatech is the premier international Conference on technology relating to zinc and zinc alloy coated sheet production and applications, bringing together steel producers, plant designers and researchers for an exchange on best practices and ...
View News ArticleDetailed FAQs on the terminology and use of zinc-or metallic-coated steel sheet.
Model to predict anticipated service life of hot-dip galvanized steel of varying coating thicknesses in a wide array of environments.
Info on the properties and performance of hot dip galvanized reinforcing steel.