Zinc Coatings Zinc Coatings Zinc Coatings Zinc CoatingsGalvanizing is a process for rustproofing iron and steel by the application of a metallic zinc coating. It is applicable to
products of nearly all shapes and sizes, ranging from nails, nuts, and bolts to large structural assemblies and steel sheet in
coils and cut lengths. Other applications include roofing and siding sheets for buildings, silos, grain bins, heat exchangers,
hot water tanks, pipe, culverts, conduits, air conditioner housings, outdoor furniture, and mail boxes. On all steel parts,
galvanizing provides long-lasting, economical protection against a wide variety of corrosive elements in the air, water, or
soil.
In the United States, more than 9 × 106 Mg (1 × 107 tons) of steel is produced annually by precoating. A large amount of
this total is used by the automotive industry for both unexposed and exposed panels--from frames and floor pans to doors,
fenders, and hoods (Fig. 1). Typically, 75% of the body, chassis, and power train components of one American
automobile manufacturer's 1986 models consisted of galvanized precoated sheet
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