Hot dip galvanizing is the process of coating pipe and fitting with a layer of zinc alloy in a bath of molten zinc at temperature around 450 °C.
As ISO 1461, ASTM A123, and EN10240, the galvanizing process has its own built-in means of quality control because zinc does not react with an unclean steel surface. So Surface Preparation is a critical step.
A hot alkali solution, mild acidic bath removes organic contaminants such as dirt, paint markings, grease, and oil from the metal surface.
A dilute solution by heated sulfuric acid or ambient hydrochloric acid, removes mill scale and iron oxides (rust) from the steel surface.
A zinc ammonium chloride solution, removes any remaining oxides and deposits a protective layer prior to dip steel in bath.
According to ISO 1461, zinc coating thickness follows below form:
Steel thickness mm |
Local coating thickness (minimum) μm |
Average coating thickness (minimum) μm |
Average coating mass (minimum) g/m2 |
---|---|---|---|
steel >6 | 70 | 85 | 610 |
3< steel ≤6 | 55 | 70 | 505 |
1.5≤ steel ≤3 | 45 | 55 | 395 |
steel <1.5 | 35 | 45 | 325 |
Pipe and fittings are completely immersed in a bath of molten zinc. The bath chemistry is specified by ASTM B6, and requires at least 98% pure zinc, to form series of bonded zinc-iron alloy layers.
TPMC is experienced in hot dip galvanizing, testing and packaging conforming to UL request, and supplies high quality galvanizing products to clients.