What Does Galvanized Mean?
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.How Does Galvanization Protect the Base Metal Underneath?
1. The zinc coating prevents corrosive substances like acid (acid rain for example) from reaching the metal underneath.
2. Galvanization protects from rusting. When the coating is scratched, zinc will still “sacrifice its anode” easier than the base metal does – which protects it from rusting.
3. The zinc protects the metal by corroding faster than the base metal. Sometimes a special ingredient called a “chromate” is added to the galvanized metal, this makes it corrode even faster. It may sound like that is not what you want to happen, but remember the zinc corroding before the metal is what protects the metal underneath from rusting.
