What is Galvanized Steel?
Galvanized steel is coated with zinc oxide to prevent rusting, since the chemical compound takes far longer to corrode than steel. It also changes the steel’s appearance, giving it a rugged look that some people prefer. All in all, galvanization makes the steel stronger and harder to scratch, so it’s ideal for outdoor use.
Galvanizing is the process of applying a protective coating to steel or iron. The coating is made from zinc and is used to halt the formation of rust. Galvanization is important because it provides long-lasting protection for steel and iron products.
Typically, manufacturers will dip the steel into molten zinc, which bonds itself to the steel like any other alloy would. This makes zinc more than just a protective coating, because it’s actually becoming part of the steel’s chemical composition. The interior may be steel, and the exterior may be zinc, but in between are gradient mixtures of steel and zinc that combine both metals’ properties. This dipping process is the most common form of galvanization, called hot-dipped galvanization. It’s also possible to spray zinc onto the steel, but this method creates a weaker layer of zinc.
