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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Sustainability issues: galvanizing vs. alternatives
Q. I am currently writing an environmental report for our furniture company and assessing the materials and finishes we use. Galvanizing is currently used on a number of products to provide corrosion resistance under a powder coating finish. I would be very grateful if anyone could shed some light on the environmental benefits of galvanizing, or if there are more sustainable/environmentally effective processes that could be used.
Cara Bettfurniture designer - Falmouth, UK
July 27, 2009
A. Hi, Cara. Even small subsets of sustainability and environmental effectiveness, like cradle to grave energy requirement, usually prove intractable. There was worldwide furor, and then scorn for a formerly reputable research company that released a report that the cradle-to-grave energy requirement for a Hummer H-3 was less than a Prius. One of the things learned was that it is virtually impossible to capture even this subset of environmental costs.
When we stop subsidizing things so all sustainability and environmental costs are captured in the real world price (they're not yet, but we're continuously getting closer), then the best indicator of sustainability and environmental effectiveness will be cost effectiveness. Galvanizing is expensive compared to other technologies like phosphatizing. So, if the component is reliable enough and long lasting enough with a phosphate treatment instead of galvanizing, I think that is a more sustainable and environmentally effective approach. But if phosphatizing isn't "good enough", then galvanizing the component is more sustainable and environmentally effective than continually repainting or remanufacturing the item because it fails due to corrosion :-)
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
July 28, 2009
A. Actually you're in luck.
There's bags of info on the sustainable aspects of galvanizing, and even books about it. Prof Woolley from Cardiff? Univ among others has studied this.
You can find much info at http://www.sustainable-galvanizing.com/
If you want the book, call the IK Galvanizers Association, they'll likely send it to you free.
Geoff Crowley
Crithwood Ltd.
Westfield, Scotland, UK
July 31, 2009
July 31, 2009
A. Cara,
Hot Dip Galvanizing with a powder paint coating is the best steel protection that I know. It is truly a premium coating. On my ranch, I prefer hot dip galvanizing to virtually any other steel coating because it lasts a lifetime in this rural area. I do not know a better steel protection for your application.
Several years ago I saw two center pivot irrigation systems that were for sale and were exactly alike (same year, make and model). One was painted, the other hot dip galvanized. The asking price for the hot dip galvanized was double what the painted one was.
Regards,
Galvanizing Consultant - Hot Springs, South Dakota, USA
September 20, 2010
Which process can be called a Greener process:
Hot Dip Galv or Electro Zn plating.
Why?
Business Owner - New Delhi, India
Hi, Paul. Despite my respect for Geoff, plus spending some time reading the papers at galvanizeit.org, I completely disagree that it is possible at this point in our knowledge to assign a "greener" label to hot dip galvanizing vs. zinc electroplating. Further, since hot-dip coatings are much thicker, and serve different needs and markets than zinc plating, such comparison become even sillier.
We still don't know whether a daily cup of coffee or a daily shot of bourbon is overall good or bad for our health yet -- the results from research studies change every month . . . yet we presume to claim which products, from mine to landfill, are better for the future of the whole ecospape? It is "feel goodism" run amok, and beyond ludicrous. Just my opinion.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 21, 2010
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