The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Zinc plating for 300 - 500 deg F

I'm looking at putting zinc plated carbon steel in a high temperature application 300F to 500F. I have heard that galvanized part give a toxic gas at these temperature. I also was under the impression that galvanizing a metal was adding zinc plating. Is this true? If not, what is the difference between zinc plating and galvanizing.

Thanks,

James Armstrong
Engineer - Louisville, Kentucky, US
2004

---

James,

Hot dip galvanizing involves dipping a steel part in molten zinc with out the use of any electric current. I have never heard of any problems with harmful fumes at the temperatures you mentioned. In fact, there are some zinc plating applications that require baking around 300 degrees for relief of hydrogen embitterment. You will, however, lose some of your corrosion resistance from the chromate film at those temperatures.

Brian Peterson
Lake Mills, Wisconsin
2004