The reasons for hot-dip galvanizing the surface of steel products

Steel readily rusts and can even be completely damaged when exposed to air, water, or soil. Corrosion accounts for approximately one-tenth of total steel production losses annually. Therefore, protective coatings and platings are used to shield steel from corrosion. Hot-dip galvanizing is one such method. Zinc is resistant to change in dry air, and in humid air, it forms a dense layer of basic zinc carbonate film on its surface, which protects the underlying zinc from further corrosion. Additionally, if the galvanized layer is damaged for some reason, exposing a relatively small area of the steel substrate, zinc and the steel substrate can form a micro-battery, making the steel substrate the cathode and thus protected. The corrosion rate of zinc in the atmosphere is one-fifteenth of that of steel, meaning that the lifespan of a zinc protective layer is relatively long. Furthermore, compared to other corrosion-resistant metallic materials, zinc is relatively inexpensive. Therefore, using hot-dip galvanizing to protect steel is both durable and cost-effective.