What is galvanized steel?
Galvanized steel is steel coated with a layer of zinc. This material is widely used in automobiles or construction to reduce the risk of corrosion, and is generally less expensive than stainless steel.
There are several processes for obtaining galvanized steel:
- Tempering: the steel will be soaked in a zinc bath for a certain time (batch process).
- HDG (Hot Dip Galvanization) a strip is hot dipped continuously in a zinc bath then drained.
- Electrogalvanizing, a zinc coating will form on the steel by cold electrolytic deposition. The thickness of the zinc layer and its homogeneity depends on the process used.
How to obtain galvanized steel welds?
Welding galvanized steel can be problematic. It is a difficult metal to weld. Indeed, when welding galvanized steel, zinc vaporizes near the arc. Zinc vapors, if not evacuated, risk creating “bubbles” in the material to be welded which will form porosities.
To avoid these welding defects, it is possible to:
- Work the surface of the metal to limit the accumulation of zinc.
- Leave a space between the two sheets so that the zinc can escape (in the form of vapor).
- Use a specific wire, a cored wire for example, to limit the appearance of porosity. In this specific case, it is necessary to respect the specifications of the wire: type of gas to use, polarity - some wires can be operated in reverse polarity, i.e. the wire acting as a negative electrode in MIG/MAG -, intensity and voltage.
As with any arc welding process, operators must be protected from welding fumes. Correctly dimensioned suction is therefore essential as a first barrier.
Do not hesitate to turn to Energas for advice and answers for welding galvanized steel in particular or different iron, nickel or aluminum base alloys.
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