What is galvanizing? How is it made?

Galvanizing is a widely used metal surface treatment technology, the main purpose of which is to prevent the metal from being oxidized or corroded by coating a layer of zinc on the metal surface. The main principle of this anti-corrosion technology is to use the chemical reaction between zinc and the base metal to form a zinc alloy layer on the metal surface.

The process of galvanizing can usually be achieved by two methods: hot dip plating and electroplating. In the hot dip plating process, the metal will be immersed in the already melted zinc, which can cause the zinc to react with the metal surface to form a uniform and thick zinc alloy layer on the metal surface. However, this method requires heating and melting the zinc, so it uses a lot of energy.

In contrast, electroplating methods are more flexible and precise. In the plating process, only a layer of zinc needs to be coated on the surface of the metal object, and then a layer of zinc alloy can be formed on the metal surface through an electrochemical reaction. This method can coat the metal surface with zinc layers of different thicknesses, so it can be precisely controlled according to actual needs. In addition, the electroplating method produces less hydrogen and pollution, and has less impact on the environment.

In general, whether it is hot dip plating or electroplating, it can effectively form a zinc alloy layer on the metal surface, so as to achieve the purpose of corrosion prevention. However, because the manufacturing process of these two methods is different, they have different effects on the quality and thickness of the zinc alloy layer.