ZINC PLATING

Zinc plating is a soft, decorative, corrosion-resistant finish. Zinc protects the substrate by sacrificing itself and thus corrodes before the base metal. This means that zinc will protect even if the zinc coating sustains minor damage, such as scratches or small punctures because of the galvanic protection of the zinc; however, the zinc coating can be attacked or dissolved by ordinary liquids such as soft drinks and vinegar.

The ultimate corrosion resistance of zinc is dependent on the thickness of the coating. To increase the corrosion-resistance of the zinc, a conversion coating is usually added. The primary use of chromate finishes on zinc is to retard or prevent the formation of white corrosion products on zinc surfaces.

The coating’s outstanding corrosion resistance leaves it virtually unaffected by petroleum products, alkalis, weak acids and many other organic liquids. Its non toxic nature has made it especially suitable for food handling equipment where both corrosion and wear resistance are required.