How Webforge approaches good galvanizing
Longevity and quality are two of the most prioritised characteristics looked for in steel or iron. To achieve this, the process of hot dip galvanizing has proven effective and should always be considered for your steel projects.
At Webforge, almost all of our products can be galvanized in-house or through Industrial Galvanizers, our partner Valmont Company. Read on to discover more about the galvanizing process and the four crucial steps involved.
Galvanizing is the dipping of oxide-free iron or steel into molten zinc.
What is galvanizing and why is it important?
Galvanizing is a term used for the cost-effective act of dipping oxide-free iron or steel into hot, molten zinc. The resulting coat bonds to the substrate's surface and protects the covered surface from corrosion.
The zinc does this by providing so-called sacrificial protection from the atmosphere due to its electronegative properties. Further, even in case of base-metal exposure, galvanized steel stays corrosion-free while the zinc layer is consumed.
Because of these characteristics, close to all products can be galvanized - from tanks and fittings to wire cloths and pipes.
How to galvanize your steel effectively
Knowing that it's an effective and important practise is one thing, but galvanizing your steel the right way is another. Before starting any form of treatment, detailed planning of vents and drains is essential for optimal results, according to the Industrial Galvanizers Specifiers Manual.
Leading from this are four key steps of galvanizing:
1. Surface Preparation
This involves thorough removal of any impurities, referred to as pickling. It ensures that there's no rust, dirt or grease left on the surface.
In the preparation phase, we also suggest sandblasting any items that are made of high-strength alloy steel, coated with lacquer or have paint on them. Objects needing coats that exceed the AS/NZS 4680:2006 standards also fall under this category.
2. Prefluxing
After the material is prepped, another round of cleaning ensues. Known as fluxing, any oxide that might have formed after pickling is eliminated to prevent rust.
3. Galvanizing
The act of galvanizing oxide-free steel or iron is done with utmost precision.
While big bath-like structures are used for large parts, galvanizing small segments uses a centrifuge process. This means that pre-treated pieces of metal are spun at high velocity to remove any excess molten zinc after withdrawal.
4. Finishing
Generally speaking, a smooth finish is reliant on a steep angle during removal. Lifting points can therefore help avoid drips, spikes or other impurities on the edges.
All of Webforge's galvanizing follows AS/NZS 4680 standards. This means we can guarantee top quality for all our products. To learn more about the process of galvanizing and what we can offer you, get in touch with us today.