Difference Between Galvanizing and Galvalume
Protecting steel from oxidation is a must for many projects. While applying a zinc coating to (known as galvanizing) steel is one common method to prevent corrosion, another material type, known as Galvalume, may also be a suitable option.
Galvalume is a coating consisting of zinc, aluminum and silicon that is used to protect a metal (primarily steel) from oxidation. It is similar to galvanizing in that it is a sacrificial metal coating which protects the base metal.
The main difference between galvanizing and Galvalume
Galvalume is a combination of zinc, aluminum, and silicon, while galvanizing is 100% zinc.
The makeup of the three elements in a Galvalume coating is just over 50% aluminum, just under 50% zinc, with trace amounts of silicon.
An advantage that Galvalume has over normal galvanized material is that it has enhanced protection abilities. Over time, Galvalume tends to perform better than galvanized steel, especially when exposed to water or other liquids that can speed up the oxidation process. Even after a few decades, Galvalume-coated steel will be less likely to rust than normal galvanized steel.
Galvalume is also considered more aesthetically pleasing than hot-dipped galvanized materials.
