Galvanization (or Galvanisation) is the process of coating iron or steel with a thin layer of zinc to protect it from rusting (corrosion). The end product is called Galvanized Iron (GI). This is one of the most effective and cost-efficient methods of preventing corrosion at a large scale.
Galvanized iron pipes were historically used for household water supply, but are now largely replaced by PVC and CPVC pipes. Galvanized steel is still widely used for roofing sheets, buckets, and wire fencing.
In Hindi, galvanization (गैल्वनीकरण) is sometimes called 'जस्ता चढ़ाना' (jastha chadhana), meaning 'coating with zinc'.
Zinc acts as a sacrificial anode. Even if the zinc coating gets scratched and the iron underneath is exposed:
This principle is called Cathodic Protection or Sacrificial Corrosion.
The standard industrial method is called Hot-Dip Galvanizing:
Other methods: Electroplating (electrogalvanizing) is used when a very thin, uniform zinc layer is needed (e.g., for car body panels).
No, it is not permanent. The zinc coating gradually corrodes (forming a protective layer of zinc oxide/carbonate called 'white rust'), but this process is much slower than iron rusting. A typical galvanized coating lasts 20-50 years depending on the environment.
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