As most of you know, galvanization is is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron in order to protect against early rust and corrosion. Without this process, depending on the kind of environment it is exposed to, atmospheric conditions will cause steel to rust much more quickly. Rust is an iron oxide (usually a red oxide), formed when iron and oxygen are exposed to air and moisture. There are protective methods such as painting or plastic coating that can protect steel and iron, but these methods do not provide the same benefits of galvanization. According to the American Galvanizers Association, galvanized sheet metal is one of the most requested products of fabricators around the world. Here are 5 benefits of galvanized sheet metal that explain why:

1. Durability. The process of zinc corrosion is very slow, which protects the base metal. The alloying of the zinc provides cathodic protection that will last as long as the zinc layer is present. With organic coatings, small damaged areas may need to be touched up, but this is not necessary with galvanized metal. Galvanized coatings usually have a life expectancy greater than 50 years in rural areas and 20-25 years in urban and coastal environments.
2. Toughness. Hot-dip galvanization, the process of completely submerging the metal into molten zinc, is the toughest protective coating out there. If the coating is scratched, the exposed steel or iron will still be protected by any remaining zinc. The Galvanizers Association of Australia says that the “unique metallurgical structure…gives outstanding resistance to mechanical damage in transport, erection, and service.”
3. Sustainability. Hot-dip galvanization provides protection with minimal environmental impact. Zinc and steel are natural and abundant resources and 100% recyclable. These are extremely renewable building materials. Additionally, because of the longevity of galvanized steel and the fact that it requires little to no maintenance, fewer materials are needed over the life of a project.
4. Affordability. This is one of the cheapest protective coatings for steel because it is less labor-intensive than many other methods of protection. Because of its longevity, it is also cheaper long-term.
5. Efficiency. Galvanized steel allows you to complete your project in a timely manner. This is because it is ready to go after production. It does not require lengthy testing methods and can be easily inspected by the eye.

Now that you understand the real benefits of galvanized sheet metal, we invite you to check out our wide, competitively-priced inventory of galvanized sheet metal and galvanized tubing for your next production project. Our staff at Arizona Iron Supply in Phoenix is ready to help you and/or answer questions, so stop in or give us a call. We do our best to make your jobs easier with quality products at great prices.

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (12/12/2018) Pixaby