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Galvanizing
“What We Need to Know”
Galvanizing History
79 AD Historical records show zinc usage in early construction.
1742 P.J. Malouin, a French chemist, presents to the Royal Academy of Sciences several
experiments involving the coating of iron by molten zinc.
1772 Luigi Galvani, galvanizing’s namesake, discovers the electrochemical process that takes place
between metals during an experiment with frog legs.
1801 Alessandro Volta discovers the electro-potential between two metals, creating a
corrosion cell.
1829 Michael Faraday discovers zinc’s sacrificial action, during an experiment
involving zinc, salt water and nails.
1837 French engineer Stanislaus Tranquille Modeste Sorel took out a patent for the
early galvanizing process.
1850 British galvanizing industry is consuming 10,000 tons of zinc annually for the
production of galvanized steel.
1870 First galvanizing plant opened in the United States. Steel was hand-dipped in the
zinc bath.
Today 600,000+ tons of zinc is consumed in North America to produce hot-dip galvanized steel.
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Hot-Dip Galvanizing Process
Surface Preparation
Cooling and
Drying Zinc inspection
Flux bath
Rinsing solution
Pickling
Caustic Rinsing
cleaning
Figure 1: The Hot-Dip Galvanizing Process
The hot-dip galvanizing process (Figure 1) consists Fluxing
of the following steps:
Steel is immersed in liquid flux (a zinc ammonium
• Surface preparation – a series of three cleaning chloride solution) for two purposes. First, the flux will
processes to prepare the steel for immersion in remove any remaining iron oxides. Additionally, the
the zinc bath, as zinc will not react with, nor flux will create a protective film to prevent oxidation
adhere to unclean steel. prior to dipping into the molten zinc bath (Yellow
• Galvanizing – total immersion of the steel in the Tank, Figure 1).
molten zinc bath.
• Inspection – visual inspection and coating
thickness measurement to ensure conformance to
appropriate specifications.
Small parts, such as fasteners, brackets, and clips
less than 30” (76cm) in length, are galvanized with
the same process. However, these parts are spun or
centrifuged after galvanizing to remove excess zinc.
Surface Preparation
Degreasing Degreasing
In the degreasing step, a hot, alkaline solution removes
dirt, oil, grease, shop oil, some paints, and soluble markings
(Green Tank, Figure 1). It will not remove some surface
contaminants, such as epoxies, vinyls, asphalts,
or welding slag. These contaminants must be
mechanically cleaned by grinding or blasting prior to
shipment to the galvanizing facility.
Pickling
Dilute solution (between 8% to 15%) of either
ambient hydrochloric or heated sulfuric acid removes
surface rust and mill scale to provide a chemically
clean metallic surface (Red Tank, Figure 1).
Pickling
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Galvanizing
The steel article is immersed in a bath of molten zinc
heated to between 815-850ºF (435-455ºC). During
galvanizing, the zinc metallurgically bonds to the
steel, creating a series of abrasion-resistant zinc-iron
alloy layers, topped by a layer of pure zinc.
As the steel is withdrawn from the zinc bath, excess
zinc is removed by draining, vibrating, or for small
items, centrifuging. It is important to remove all
excess to ensure the part is suitable for its intended
use. The galvanized item is either cooled by air or
water, or dipped in a passivation solution to prevent
oxidation.
Hot-Dip Galvanizing Process
Inspection
The final step in the galvanizing process is the So, if the steel has a continuous coating of zinc, it
inspection of the surface condition and coating should meet the required specification. To confirm
thickness. The inspection of galvanizing is relatively conformance, the coating thickness is measured using
easy because zinc does not adhere to unclean steel. a magnetic thickness gauge.
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Key
70 Rural
60 Suburban
Temperate Marine
50 Tropical Marine
40 Industrial
30
20
10
0
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0
Average Thickness of Zinc (mils)
1 mil = 25.4µm = 0.56oz/ft2
*Time to first maintenance is defined as the time to 5% rusting of the substrate steel surface.
Now that we know the history, processes, and Once the decision has been made to hot-dip galvanize steel
performance characteristics of galvanizing, let’s for maximum corrosion protection, the design engineer
examine characteristics for quality galvanizing. should ensure the pieces can be suitably fabricated for the
Protection against corrosion begins at the drawing board. highest-quality galvanizing.
No matter what corrosion protection system is specified,
it must be factored into the product’s design. There are a few considerations when designing
components for galvanizing. These guidelines are relatively
simple and will help ensure maximum corrosion protection.
• Design a field splice at every other floor for heavy and long
columns.
• Increase the column size so doubler plates and cover plates are not Figure 6: Shear Connection
required at the web and flange to satisfy the loads.
• Use “W” & “WT” members for bracing in place of back to back
stitched angle.
Welding Procedure
Ductile iron pipe with
machined flange
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Cropping For Drainage Masking
To achieve effective galvanizing, the cleaning It is possible to mask
solutions and molten zinc must flow completely into, sections of a part to
over, through and out of the fabricated steel. Below avoid the development of
(Figures 12-15) are recommended types of drainage the galvanized coating.
design to avoid improper drainage resulting in poor Examples where masking
appearance, bare spots, and/or excessive buildup of is commonly used:
zinc. This buildup may make the part heavier than Masking
anticipated in the design. Proper communication 1. Field welded shear studs
throughout the project will help attain good design 2. Slip critical bolt surfaces
for drainage. 3. Field welded splice areas
All stiffeners and gusset plates should be cropped There are 4 categories of masking material:
(See Figure 12&14) to provide an opening with a • Acid-resistant, high temperature tapes
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minimum of 0.3 in or 13/16 in. hole at the corners of • Water-based pastes and paint-on formulations
all stiffeners. (See Figure 13&15). • Resin-based, high temperature paints
• High temperature greases
Masking – using a material to produce intentionally
ungalvanized areas, typically used on surfaces to be welded,
on faying surfaces, or areas where the galvanized steel
coating is not necessary for uniform corrosion protection.
Marking
Figure 12: Cropped Figure 13: Hole Permanent identification practices include:
Corners (Preferred) close to corner
• Stamping the surface of the material using die-
cut deep stencils or a series of punch-marks
toward the center of the pieces.
• A series of weld beads to mark letters or numbers
directly onto the material. It is essential that all
weld flux be removed in order to achieve the
Figure 14: Cropped Figure 15: Holes highest-quality galvanized coatings.
Corners (Preferred) at Corner (Alternative)
• Deep stenciling a steel tag (minimum #12 gauge)
(See detail sketch, page 23-24, and firmly affixing it to the material with a
for more information) minimum #9 gauge steel wire. If desired, tags
may be seal-welded directly onto the material.
Repair of Venting Holes
If vent holes need to be closed after galvanizing, as
they often are in handrail pieces, aluminum or zinc
plugs can be used.
Before After
Common identification practices
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A similar process is suggested for oversizing open
holes. The hot-dip galvanizing process adds a
coating of zinc to steel in the range of 2-8 mils. When
designing open holes, it is necessary to plan for the
increased thickness on both the fastener and the hole
(see Table 1). If after galvanizing, the hole is still not
large enough, it can be reamed. A small amount of
reaming will not affect the corrosion protection.
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Temporary Bracing
Large diameter, thin-walled pipe and many long or
complex fabrications may require temporary bracing
to prevent possible distortion. The slow (3 ft/min)
immersion of steel items into the zinc bath creates an
uneven heating and cooling gradient.
Progressive Dipping
(See detail sketch, page 25, for more information) Zinc Rich Paint
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Appearance
When steel parts are removed from the molten zinc bath, To learn more about design guidelines for galvanized steel,
the hot-dip galvanized coating can appear bright and visit www.galvanizeit.org and download the publications
shiny, spangled, matte gray, or a combination of these. The Design of Products to be Hot-Dip Galvanized
Regardless of the appearance, the corrosion protection After Fabrication and/or Recommended Details for
afforded is the same. After a few months of exposure Galvanizing Structures.
to the atmosphere, hot-dip galvanizing forms a protective
layer of zinc corrosion byproducts that will give all pieces
a uniform, matte gray appearance.
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ASTM STANDARDS RELATING TO HOT-DIP
GALVANIZING AND HOT-DIP GALVANIZED MATERIALS
A 36 Specification for Structural Steel
A 123/ A 123 M Specification For Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings On Iron And
Steel Products
A 143 Practice For Safeguarding Against Embrittlement of Hot-Dip Galvanized
Structural Steel Products and Procedure for Detecting Embrittlement
A 153/ A 153 M Specification For Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) On Iron And Steel Hardware
A 384/ A 384 M Practice For Safeguarding Against Warpage And Distortion During Hot-
Dip Galvanizing Of Steel Assemblies
A 385 Practice For Providing High-Quality Zinc Coatings (Hot-Dip)
A 500 Specification for Cold-Formed Welded and Seamless Carbon Steel
Structural Tubing in Rounds and Shapes
A 501 Specification for Hot-Formed Welded and Seamless Carbon Steel
Structural Tubing
A 563 Standard Specification for Carbon and Alloy Steel Nuts
A 572 Specification for High-Strength Low-Alloy Columbium-Vanadium Steels of
Structural Quality
A 767/ A 767 M Specification For Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) Steel Bars For Concrete
Reinforcement
A 780 Practice For Repair Of Damaged And Uncoated Areas Of Hot-Dip
Galvanized Coatings
A 992 Specifications for Steel Structural Shapes For Use in Building Framing
B6 Specification For Zinc
D 6386 Practice For Preparation Of Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coated Iron And
Steel Products And Hardware Surfaces For Painting
E 376 Practice For Measuring Coating Thickness By Magnetic-Field Or Eddy-
Current (Electromagnetic) Test Methods
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does galvanizing protect steel from corrosion? 7. Isn’t galvanizing more expensive than paint?
Zinc metal used in the galvanizing process provides Depending on the product mix, square feet per ton, and
an impervious barrier between the steel substrate and condition of the steel surface, galvanizing is often less
corrosive elements in the atmosphere. It does not allow expensive on an initial cost basis. However, as with any
moisture and corrosive chlorides and sulfides to attack the purchase, the life-cycle costs should be considered when
steel. Zinc is more importantly anodic to steel – meaning making a project decision on the corrosion protection
it will corrode before the steel, until the zinc is entirely system to utilize. And, with galvanizing, the life-
consumed. cycle cost, i.e. the cost per year to maintain, is almost
always less than a paint system. Paint systems require
2. How long can I expect my galvanized steel projects maintenance, partial repainting and full repainting
to last in service? several times over a 30-year project life. The costs can
Hot-dip galvanized steel resists corrosion in numerous be staggering, making the decision to paint a costly one
environments extremely well. It is not uncommon in the long run. To run the comparison yourself, visit
for galvanized steel to last more than 70 years under www.galvanizingcost.com.
certain conditions.
8. What if the article to be galvanized is larger than
3. Does the galvanized steel coating of zinc resist the dimensions of the galvanizer’s kettle? Can it
abrasion? still be galvanized?
The three intermetallic layers that form during the Galvanizers can progressively dip such a fabrication or
galvanizing process are all harder than the substrate steel article of steel. They dip one half in the molten zinc
and have excellent abrasion resistance. bath, remove it, turn it around or over and immerse
the other half in the zinc. This method is sometimes
4. Why do galvanized steel appearances differ from erroneously referred to as “double dipping”.
project to project and galvanizer to galvanizer, and
is there any difference in the corrosion protection 9. Are there any special design and fabrication
offered by the different appearing coatings? considerations required to make steel ready for hot-
The appearance of the coating (matte gray, shiny, dip galvanizing?
spangled) does nothing to change the corrosion protection Yes. Specifically, fabricated steel must allow for easy
of the zinc coating. The corrosion protection is a function flow of the cleaning chemicals and molten zinc metal
of the amount of zinc in the coating, more zinc equals over and through it. This means that gussets must be
longer life. cropped, holes put in the proper location for draining
and venting of zinc from tubular configurations, weld
5. Can galvanized steel in service withstand high flux removed, overlapping surfaces must be seal-
temperatures for long periods of time? welded, and light gauge material temporarily braced.
Constant exposure to temperatures below 390F (200C) is
a perfectly acceptable environment for hot-dip galvanized 10. Sometimes, the galvanized coating is shinier in
steel. Good performance can also be obtained when some places than others. Why is that?
hot-dip galvanized steel is exposed to temperatures above The galvanized coating appearance may either be
390F (200C) on an intermittent basis. bright and shiny resulting from the presence of
an outer layer of pure zinc, or duller, matte gray
6. Why would you want to paint over galvanized steel? as the result of the coating’s intermetallic layers
Called duplex coatings, zinc and paint in combination being exposed. The appearance has no affect on the
(synergistic effect) will protect a structure 1.5 to 2.5 corrosion performance of the coating. Over time and
times the sum of the corrosion protection each alone exposure to the environment, all galvanized coatings
would provide. Additionally, duplex coatings make for become a uniform, matte gray.
easy repainting, excellent safety marking systems, and
good color-coding. Painting over galvanized steel that 11. Is the zinc coating’s thickness consistent over the
has been in service for many years also extends the life entire piece?
of the zinc coating. Coating thickness depends on the thickness,
roughness, chemistry, and design of the steel being
galvanized. Any or all of these factors could produce
galvanized coatings of non-uniform thickness.
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12. How much weight will my material gain from 17. Is there a way to provide for intentionally
galvanizing? ungalvanized areas?
As an average, the weight of the article will Yes, but because masking or stop-off materials may
increase by about 3.5% due to zinc picked up in the not be 100% effective, contact your galvanizer for
galvanizing process. However, that figure can vary suggestions.
greatly based on numerous factors. The fabrication’s
shape, size, and steel chemistry all play a major role 18. Is there any environmental impact when the zinc
in the final weight. coating sacrificially corrodes? Is zinc a safe metal?
There are no known studies to suggest zinc corrosion
13. I’m interested in specifying hot-dip galvanizing products cause any harm to the environment. Zinc is
for reinforcing steel. Are there any concerns with a naturally occurring element (27th most abundant
fabricating rebar after galvanizing? element in the earth’s crust), and necessary for all
Rebar can be fabricated after galvanizing, but the organisms to live. It is a recommended part of our diet
fabrication process may induce damage into the (RDA 15 mg) and necessary for reproduction. It is
protective coating and reduce the life of the material. used in baby ointments, vitamins, surgical instruments,
sunscreens and cold lozenges.
14. Can I specify how much zinc to put on the steel?
No, the steel chemistry and surface condition are 19. Should I be concerned when galvanized steel
the primary determinants of zinc coating thickness. comes in contact with other metals?
Leaving the steel in the molten zinc a little longer Zinc is a noble metal and will sacrifice itself (i.e.
than optimal may have one of two effects: corrode, give up its electrons and create a bi-metallic
1) it may increase the coating thickness, but only couple) to protect most metals. So, it is recommended
marginally; 2) or it may significantly increase the to insulate galvanized steel so it doesn’t come in
coating thickness and cause a brittle coating. direct contact with dissimilar metals. Rubber or
plastic, both non-conductive, are often used to
provide this insulation.
15. What does it mean to “double-dip” steel?
“Double-dipping” is the progressive dipping of steel 20. What is “cold” galvanizing?
too large to fit into the kettle in a single dip. Double- There is no such thing as cold galvanizing. The term is
dipping cannot be used to produce a thicker hot-dip often used in reference to zinc-rich paint. Galvanizing by
galvanized coating. definition means a metallurgical reaction between zinc
and iron to create a bond between the zinc and the steel of
16. What is the reason for incorporating venting & approximately 3600 psi. There is no such reaction when
drainage holes into a project’s design? zinc-rich paints are applied and the bond strength is only
The primary reason for vent holes is to allow several hundred psi.
otherwise trapped air and gases to escape; the
primary reason for drain holes is to allow cleaning
solutions and molten zinc metal to flow entirely into,
over, and throughout the part, and then back into the
tank or kettle.
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National Institute of Steel Detailing
7700 Edgewater Dr. Ste. 670
Oakland, CA 94621-3022
510.568.3741
www.nisd.org