HDG or Hot dip galvanizing is used for safeguarding steel from corrosion in few of the imaginable harshest environments. Still, it is said to offer maintenance-free convenience and longevity, when compared to other types of products. Hot dip galvanizing corrosion resistance tends to vary depending upon its surroundings, but its corrosion rate is about 1/30 of that of bare steel when similar environment is taken into consideration. Actual consumption rate measurement of coating at the initial years of service does offer excellent data to project conservative estimate for rest of the life to that of its first maintenance. The reason is because, it is on the surface that zinc corrosion products are known to build on. In majority of the environments, it is considered to be fairly insoluble and adherent, with the rate of corrosion slowing down with time.

Other factors to consider

Zinc coating is said to come with corrosion resistance that is primarily determined by the coating thickness. However, it varies with environmental conditions and its severity. Hot tip galvanizing is affected in a different manner by each environment, based upon unique series of corrosion variables. The coating’s lifetime predictability is considered to be crucial to plan and budget for necessary maintenance.

Irrespective of being exposed to the atmosphere, or subjected to snow, blazing UV rays, or other types of elements, embedded in soil, submerged in water or concrete or any other type of environment, such type of steel has the capability to withstand various types of corrosive elements. It also can fulfill the desired design life. There are present several sites that does offer good idea about the performance of such type of steel products.

Other things to consider

The truth is that before using hot dip galvanized steel for the project, there is a genuine need to know as to how long it can last. Like with any type of corrosion protection system, there are two common questions pertaining to this product with regards to the costs associated and coating life. A tool has been developed to allow the specifiers to refer quickly a visual guide which approximates the performance of corrosion protection of this steel in different atmospheric conditions.

The estimated time for the initial maintenance of zinc coating against coating thickness in atmospheric applications is depicted through the initial maintenance chart. The coating life estimation in water or soil is not applicable with this chart. It also is known to feature 5 distinctive plotlines that represents climate types along with differing rate of corrosion. With such plotlines as well as knowledge of the coating thickness, trying to estimate the time of the first maintenance of the coating becomes quite simple, similar to that of reading few points on the graph.

With some research and understanding it becomes easier to use the time to initial maintenance chart. When carefully followed, it is likely to give the desired result and show how much long the hot dip galvanized metal can last.

There are many who are not aware of the difference between galvanized and hot dip galvanized metal. Both the terms almost sound the same. For galvanizing, there are present numerous standards. Browsing on the web can help to find some fabulous references and for this, the search needs to be C90 or G60.

People might use the term electrogalvanized for hot dip galvanized metal, even if the article is about electroplated with zinc only. It is from there that some might assume that shortening it to galvanize is legitimate. There are many manufacturers offering zinc electroplated finishes that are less corrosion resistant and thinner than galvanized. But still these are called galvanized!

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What is the difference? – Hot Dip Galvanized Metal and Galvanized Metal 

There does exist a sharp difference between hot dipped galvanized metal and galvanized objects like nails. The new standard that is being used for the pressure treated lumber, according to ACQ states, chemicals which are used in ACQ are likely to corrode the ordinary galvanized fasteners. Hence, special consideration is an absolute must when using ACQ lumber. ACQ is to be used with stainless steel or hot dipped fasteners. Electro-galvanized is a phrase which many may have come across.

Words such as galvanized could be imprecise expect for any specific context. Professionals are likely to state ‘galvanized’ to exactly mean ‘hot dip galvanized’ instead of zinc electroplated (electro galvanized). The latter is a term which is never used by the professionals.

Electro-galvanized

According to many professionals, this term is not required to be used, since, it means the same thing like that of ‘zinc electroplated’. It is regarded to be a term that has been used, accepted and understood universally for ages. It is even stated that probably ‘electro-galvanized’, the term is probably coined by any salesman. This is perhaps to help the company that has been offering less durable and far less expensive zinc electroplating to sail smoothly and pass on the products as superior quality ones.

Some examples

It could be that during construction of a hospital building, the outlet boxes present in the wall need to be sheradized or hot dipped galvanized. The boxes are stated to be zinc plated galvanized manufactured. Is there a need to get the boxes to be hot dipped or simply have the architect convinced they are quite fabulous just the way it seems to be. Since the building is to be a hospital, where there is expected to be used crucial life support equipment, the architect is sure to be concerned about the zinc whiskers. It is regarded to be a stress phenomenon, where the zinc electroplated surfaces can be a definitive subject and the galvanized surfaces have been believed to be quite less.

The hot dipped galvanized metal specifications may appear on the electrical materials due to outdated specifications. Manufacturers are forced by clean air regulations to adopt the new processes, while construction specifications are not noticed to keep up with such requirements.

Moreover, hot dip galvanizing is known to change thread dimensions. However, it is quite common for cutting threads and allows dimensional change.

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