How Steel Pole Barn Components Are Galvanized to Prevent Rust
Most of the fasteners, engineered steel hangers, steel connector plates, and door components used in pole barns are made with galvanized steel. This is done to prevent corrosion, or rust. Corrosion is a natural process that occurs over time when steel is exposed to the environment. Galvanization can slow the process of corrosion.
What Is Galvanization?
Galvanization involves coating steel with a layer of zinc in order to slow down the process of corrosion. Zinc rusts more easily than steel, but it also rusts at a much slower rate. This keeps the steel safe from rust for a long period of time. Two types of galvanization can be used.
Types of Galvanization
With continuous galvanization, zinc is applied to a steel ribbon as it is passed through a bath at very high speeds. It is in the bath for just two to four seconds. After it has been galvanized, the steel is shaped into a product.
Only thin, flexible steel sheets can be galvanized using a continuous process because the steel has to stay flexible so it can be shaped later. Continuous galvanization is used to make roofing and siding sheets.
Batch galvanization, or after-fabrication galvanization, involves immersing steel in a bath of molten zinc after it is formed into its final shape. The process is not as fast as continuous galvanizing, but it can be used with metal in any shape.
The Galvanization Process
The galvanization process involves three steps. First, the steel is immersed in three cleaning baths. A caustic cleaner removes dirt and grease. Then the steel is rinsed in a water bath and cleaned with a pickling acid (hydrochloric or sulfuric acid) to remove rust and mill scale, then rinsed with water again. After that, the steel is soaked in a flux solution to remove any oxidation that happened after the pickling step and prevent further oxidation.
The steel is then put in a galvanizing bath with a minimum of 98 percent molten zinc heated to around 850 degrees Fahrenheit. After the steel reaches the temperature of the bath, the zinc chemically reacts with the iron in the steel to form protective layers. This usually takes less than 10 minutes. The steel then goes through a post-treatment process. One of the most common processes involves soaking the steel in a quench tank to make a protective layer.
Get a Quote for a Pole Barn Today
Using galvanized steel is important to construct a durable and long-lasting pole barn. At CHA Pole Barns, we use the highest-quality materials to build pole barns that will last. To get an estimate on a new pole barn, contact us today.
When you are ready contact CHA Pole Barns to talk about your pole barn project.