When it comes to construction and piping, you want to make sure that you use the best material available, and that’s exactly where galvanized steel comes in.
Made when steel is covered with a layer of zinc via a chemical reaction, galvanized steel is used in a variety of industries, including agriculture, solar, and automotive.
How is galvanized steel made?
There are a number of ways that galvanized steel is created, and these include Hot-Dip Galvanizing, Galvannealing, Pre-galvanizing, and Electrogalvanizing.
The most popular form is hot-dip galvanizing.
With this process, steel is dipped into a molten pool of zinc, and the zinc is then chemically bonded with the steel.
Following this, the steel is removed from the molten pool, and it reacts to the atmosphere, which causes the pure zinc to mix with oxygen, creating zinc oxide. However, the process doesn’t end there. The zinc-oxide then reacts to carbon dioxide and forms zinc carbonate, and this then makes up the final protective coating on the material.
While this is not the only way to galvanize steel, hot-dip galvanizing is a cost-effective and quick process.
What is 200UC galvanized steel?
200UC galvanized steel is manufactured to hold loads along its vertical axis and resist twisting. It is roughly equal in height and width, and it’s commonly used in a number of industries.
Benefits of galvanized steel
There are plenty of reasons as to why so many industries prefer to use galvanized steel.
1. Cost-effective
Unlike other forms of protective steel coatings, galvanized steel is cost-effective, and this is due to two factors. Firstly, the steel lasts longer than regular steel. Secondly, thanks to its durability, galvanized steel requires less maintenance. After all, maintenance can cause issues and raise costs; thus, the less maintenance needed, the more money saved.
2. Durable and tough
Thanks to the coating, galvanized steel is incredibly resistant to mechanical damage in transport, storage, handling, and erection.
Additionally, galvanizing steel posts are commonly used to protect steel placed in soil, concrete, or water. We know that metal is prone to rust and corrosion; galvanized steel helps to prevent this by ensuring its longevity, regardless of the environment.
What’s more, the zinc also acts as a protective coating which means that if the coating is scratched, the exposed steel is still protected by the remaining zinc.
3. Gentler on the planet
We’re all looking for ways to protect the planet and combat climate change, and the good news is that galvanized steel can help you do that.
For one, zinc and steel are both 100% recyclable, and this makes galvanized steel a renewable material.
Thanks to its durability and reduced maintenance, this type of steel is a much more sustainable option. After all, reducing maintenance, or eliminating it completely, means fewer emissions and waste, and this is good news for the planet.
What other sizes does it come in?
Galvanized steel is easy to cut, which means it is available in many lengths. Aside from 200UC, galvanized steel can also be cut into 100UC14.8, 150UC (150UC23.4, 150UC30), 100PFC, and 150PFC.
Visit RWSteel for Galvanized Steel
Are you in need of steel supplies? Look no further than RWSteel. We not only stock retaining wall steel and cost-effective Hot Dip Galvanized steel posts, but we also offer to cut to length at no extra charge and weld and fabricate to your engineering specifications.