How to repair damaged galvanized steel?

Galvanized steel appears in many daily applications. Galvanized steel is even used to repair ships, warehouses and chain fences. But how to repair damaged galvanized steel? When galvanized steel is in constant contact with water, it will produce a kind of corrosion called white rust. If you start to notice white rust, perform the following steps to repair galvanized steel to prevent further damage to the galvanized steel.

galvanized steel

What is white rust?

Galvanized metal is coated with zinc, and when the metal is exposed to the air, it will show a green luster. If the metal is underwater or exposed to water for a long time, the zinc coating begins to react with water and carbon dioxide in the air to form an off-white zinc carbonate. Eventually, the zinc carbonate will peel off and expose the steel beneath it. The exposed steel will rust faster from the more familiar reddish brown rust. Most of us will not take any measures to protect the metal until we see the reddish brown rust. However, you need to take the following measures to prevent further damage to the galvanized steel.

Steps to repair galvanized steel

First, remove the rust. This doesn't need anything fancy. Pour some vinegar on the rusty area, then wipe off the rust with a wire brush. Rinse away loose rust and dry thoroughly. Next, perform a second pass in the rusty area. If you still see rust, repeat the first step. Then rinse the galvanized steel with a garden hose and dry it again. Now you can start your steps for repairing galvanized steel. You will need goggles, rubber gloves and navy jelly. The reason you need protective gear is that military jelly is just a generic name for phosphoric acid. It is not really "strong" acid, but it can still burn your skin and eyes. Put on your goggles and gloves and make a solution of approximately 5% navy jelly and 95% water. Do not spill the solution when mixing. Let it sit for about 10 minutes before proceeding to the fourth step. Apply a solution of navy jelly and water to the rusty area. Let it sit for 5 minutes to see if the galvanized steel is rusty. If you see rust, please repeat. After removing the last visible layer of rust, rinse and wipe dry the affected surface. Finally, apply zinc-rich paint to the affected area. The color of the paint will age in about a year to match the rest of the metal parts. If you just let the white rust "disappear", the area around the still galvanized steel will slow down corrosion-even the part that has lost the coating. However, if you do not pay attention to prevent further damage to the galvanized steel, you will eventually destroy the metal.

galvanized steel

Commercial application

How to repair damaged galvanized steel in commercial applications? Hot-dip galvanized steel is very resistant to damage, but occasionally damages after leaving the galvanizing plant. Corrosive use conditions, rough handling during transportation and incorrect installation techniques can all cause galvanized steel wear. In rare cases, trace contaminants in the solvent used in the cleaning process can damage the zinc coating on the galvanized steel. For large pieces of damaged galvanized steel, the recommended procedure is to use zinc-rich paint or zinc-rich solder. These procedures are not true galvanizing, but they can prevent damage, provided that the surface is properly prepared before painting or soldering. It is also possible to repair damaged parts by metallization and spraying with molten zinc. This is a true galvanizing process, which can prevent further damage to the galvanized steel and greatly extend the service life of the damaged steel.

Any more questions about the steps to repair galvanized steel? Siyoute specializes in providing galvanized steel coils manufactured by various galvanizing processes. If you want to know more about the steps of repairing galvanized steel, please continue to pay attention to the official website of siyoute. We will update related products from time to time, and provide related product information and materials, contact us, we will be happy to answer you. Follow our website and call us when we can help!

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