Galvanized Sheet Metal Rust

By adam hornbacher of wenzel metal spinning.

Galvanized sheet metal rust.

Galvanized metal is coated with a layer of zinc to protect the iron or steel underneath. If the item is exposed to continually wet conditions the zinc develops a film known as white rust. Cool rolled sheet metal is also frequently galvanized. When the zinc is all gone this is when real rust sets in.

Hot dipped galvanized steel and electroplated galvanized steel are made using different methods and their zinc galvanized coatings corrode completely differently. It is worth noting that even a g90 zinc coating will eventually red rust if left exposed to the environment but it will take many decades for the metal to deteriorate. Another type of rust that we talk about in the sheet metal industry is white rust. Direct sunlight helps speed up the rusting process.

Galvanization is a process used to preserve steel rust free for many years. I learned this the hard way by trying to rust some galvanized buckets i had on hand and read up about it here. Nuts bolts tools and wires of all kinds are now galvanized because it is a cheap process and definitely helps boost the metal s lifespan. This is the type of corrosion that is prevented by a galvanized coating.

Galvanized steel is designed not to rust so if you have a galvanized steel item that has rusted it means that the galvanization has worn off completely in those areas. In the manufacturing industry including both metal stamping and metal spinning galvanized commonly refers to galvanized steel. Move the metal object you want to rust out to a yard or open garage on a hot day. In the galvanizing process a piece of steel is coated with liquid zinc.

Many of the rusty looking assemblage elements that i add to my art actually start out as clean pieces of metal. I believe it has to have iron in it in order to rust and if it s galvanized stainless steel or some other type of metal that doesn t corrode then this process won t work. Galvanized steel has been used for almost 2 000 years because of its unrivaled ability to last a very long time and resist rust. I love to incorporate tie plates and nail plates that are used in construction but in most cases this type of steel has a galvanized finish to prevent them from rusting.

Galvanization involves zinc which corrodes instead of the actual metal to prevent rust. Prepare your work area. Left untreated white rust corrodes the zinc and the metal underneath begins to rust exhibiting the more traditional brownish red color.