Maintenance Services: Galvanising

Steel repairs and maintenance extend to ensuring the continued longevity and durability of steel structures and components. At Chemvet Steel & Fencing, we have extended our services by including the galvanisation of steel components – the most effective solution for corrosion protection.

Galvanising is a process of applying a protective coating of zinc to steel, preventing it from rusting. It is increasingly being used to provide strength to steel structures. Where other organic coatings tend to thin out in critical areas, such as corners and narrow edges, galvanisation covers every part of the steel, including sharp edges and inaccessible areas, offering outstanding resistance to rust, corrosion, and mechanical damage.

Our Superior Galvanisation Processes

We pay attention to every detail and ensure that all steel components to be galvanised are free from contaminants, mill scale, and iron oxides (rust), which we remove through either a heated alkaline solution if the contaminants are dirt, grease, and oil; or a process referred to as “pickling”, using a diluted solution of hydrochloric acid, for the removal of mill scale and iron oxide.

After these processes, further rinsing is done to ensure that the steel is completely free from any excess materials, allowing us to lower the “clean” steel into a zinc bath. Before the descent into the zinc bath, a process referred to as “drying” ensures that any splashing or ejections of zinc are reduced. This decreases any thermal shock and furnace working times. With the metallurgical reaction happening in mere minutes, the entire procedure takes a few hours.

Once completed, our thoroughness extends to applying stringent quality checks and visual inspections, ensuring that every steel component has optimum corrosion protection and that the thickness of the zinc coating is according to standard.

How Galvanisation Benefits Structural Steel Support

• The metallurgic zinc layer of the galvanised coating prevents the underlying steel from being exposed to atmospheric conditions, such as moisture.
• Small surface scratches will not require repair work even if exposed to humidity and other corrosive elements as the protective galvanised layer corrodes at a slower rate than the underlying steel.
• The zinc coating prevents sideways creep by protecting steel components from rust deposits that accumulate on bare steel and eventually lead to the complete deterioration of a steel component.
• With abrasion resistance up to ten times that of other coatings, galvanising provides steel components with complete protection.

Measurable Benefits of Galvanising Steel

• Unlike other forms of steel protection, galvanised steel can withstand extreme weather conditions whether exposed to sub-zero temperatures in winter or those higher than 500C in summer months.
• No time is lost due to inspections, on-site surface preparation, or painting as galvanised steel components are ready for immediate use.
• The life expectancy of galvanised steel is more than 50 years, making it a long-term investment that requires little to no maintenance.
• The application of galvanising does not need to rely on ideal weather conditions with a full protective coating being applied within minutes.The application of galvanising does not need to rely on ideal weather conditions with a full protective coating being applied within minutes.
• The high economic and environmental costs associated with continuous painting and maintenance make the corrosive protection of galvanised steel a long-term and more sustainable solution.

Galvanising is a relatively straightforward and closely controlled process, forming a protective outer coating on steel components that is consistent and one that becomes part of the steel itself.