
Curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET

The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing 1989-2025

-----
Phase structure of galvanized zinc on sheet steel
Q. Dear Sir,
I am really want to know the structure of Zinc sheet (tole). If can, you advise me where I can get this information! And also you can tell me the basics of tole (formula, the thickness of each level!)
Thanks a lot and warm regards!
Jackie ThuStudent - Dong Nai, Viet Nam
2003
A. Do you mean zinc-coated sheet steel? Formulas and thicknesses of layers make sense for galvanized steel produced by hot-dipping in molten zinc. The liquid zinc alloys with the steel (iron) to form the phases of the Fe-Zn phase diagram: Fe (containing up to 6.3 wt% Zn at its surface), Gamma (20.5-28 wt% Fe), delta (7-10% Fe), zeta-FeZn13 (6-6.2% Fe) and Zn.
The Gamma layer comprises about 1% of the coating thickness, delta about 5%, zeta about 40%, and the Zn surface layer being the remainder. There is some intermixing of the zeta and zinc phases.
A common galvanized coating specification (U. S. and EN ISO 1461) is 2 oz/square foot (600 g/sq.meter) by weight, or 0.0033 inch (85 microns) by thickness.
The American Galvanizers Association publication "Zinc Coatings" shows cross-sectional microstructures of zinc coatings: https://www.galvanizeit.org/resources/files/AGA%20PDFs/T_ZC_00.pdf
https://www.galvanizeit.org/about-hot-dip-galvanizing/what-is-hot-dip-galvanizing/the-hdg-coating/zinc-coating/
The European Galvanizers has a product fact file showing a similar Fe-Zn galvanize microstructure, with text available in 5 languages, e.g., the Spanish version at http://www.egga.com/fact/spanish/02/industry.htm
Ken Vlach [deceased]- Goleta, California

Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
Fe-Zn intermetallic compounds during galvanization
Q. When will Delta, Zeta, Gamma phases form during
Galvanization?
Does Aluminum in zinc bath affect the Fe-Zn phases?
- Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
June 24, 2013
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread