General information

Steel sheets and plates can be coated with various materials to induce or reinforce desirable characteristics. Such characteristics may encompass a protective function or particular design aesthetic. Coatings help make steel products more versatile and thus applicable in a wider range of applications and industries. Steel & metal products can amongst others be galvanised, passivated, chrome or phosphate coated. To suit your industry specific requirements, the Kloeckner online shop stocks a range of coated steel and metal products with different characteristics.

Different steel coatings

Galvanised

Galvanizing describes a process in which a zinc layer is applied to steel to prevent rust from forming. Steel can either be hot dipped galvanised or electrogalvanized. During hot dip galvanizing, steel is immersed in molten zinc which triggers the formation of a zinc-iron alloy. The hot dipping method creates thick zinc coating which is most effective against corrosion.

During electrogalvanizing an electric current is run through a zinc solution which oxidises zinc on the surface of the immersed steel product. This process is sometimes also referred to as electroplating. Electroplating zinc offers a few advantages over hot dipping including a lower thickness of deposits and a brighter more visually appealing aesthetic.

Galvanised

Galvanizing describes a process in which a zinc layer is applied to steel to prevent rust from forming. Steel can either be hot dipped galvanised or electrogalvanized. During hot dip galvanizing, steel is immersed in molten zinc which triggers the formation of a zinc-iron alloy. The hot dipping method creates thick zinc coating which is most effective against corrosion.

During electrogalvanizing an electric current is run through a zinc solution which oxidises zinc on the surface of the immersed steel product. This process is sometimes also referred to as electroplating. Electroplating zinc offers a few advantages over hot dipping including a lower thickness of deposits and a brighter more visually appealing aesthetic.