When comparing stainless steel vs.
Galvanized steel zinc plated steel.
The steel and the zinc become one.
There are some instances when zinc is electrically connected to dissimilar metals on purpose such as on boats or on pipelines.
Zinc plated and galvanized fasteners are made of steel with a sacrificial zinc coating.
Both methods add a protective layer of zinc to the steel.
Zinc plating is a popular choice for coating nuts bolts washers metal stampings automotive parts fabricated parts for industrial applications as well as sheet metals.
Galvanized plating is used in a multitude of materials in the construction industry including large structural shapes.
But don t be a magpie and just pick up the shiny object think about the use.
Zinc plating looks shiny and pretty galvanized looks dull.
Both add a layer of zinc to the outside of the product.
The galvanized coating is applied over steel to protect that steel not the other non coated steel that the galvanized steel happens to be in contact with.
Galvanized nuts it s important to realize that stainless steel itself is a material and galvanizing and zinc plating are forms of coating.
When should you use galvanized steel or zinc plated steel.
Galvanized coatings are almost always several times thicker than electroplated coatings so galvanized fasteners greatly outlast zinc plated fasteners.
That coating is eventually consumed.
Steel when being hot dip galvanised is dipped into a 450 c bath of molten liquid zinc.