Cleaning steel to prepare for the hot-dip galvanized coating After degreasing, pickling, and fluxing, the surface of the steel is a near white metal clean, completely free of any oxides or other contaminants that might inhibit the reaction of the iron and molten zinc in the galvanizing kettle.

Jan 11, 2019

Cleaning steel to prepare for the hot-dip galvanized coating

After degreasing, pickling, and fluxing, the surface of the steel is a near white metal clean, completely free of any oxides or other contaminants that might inhibit the reaction of the iron and molten zinc in the galvanizing kettle.

Galvanizing Standards There are certain specifications that have been developed for hot-dip galvanizing in order to produce a high-quality coating. There are three main standards that govern the hot-dip galvanized steel, and a handful of supporting specifications that design engineers and fabricators should become familiar with to promote a high-quality coating and ensure their steel design is suitable for hot-dip galvanizing.

step of Cleaning steel to prepare for the hot-dip galvanized coating Fluxing Finally, the steel is dipped in the flux. The purpose of the flux is to clean the steel of all oxidation developed since the pickling of the steel and to create a protective coating to prevent any oxidation before entering the galvanizing kettle. One type of flux is contained in a separate tank, is slightly acidic, and contains a combination of zinc chloride and ammonium chloride. Another type of flux, top flux, floats on top of the liquid zinc in the galvanizing kettle, but serves the same purpose.