While steel is one of the most resilient and versatile materials you can build with today, it is still susceptible to corrosion. This in turn can affect its integrity, durability and aesthetics. Thankfully there are ways you can protect your steel against different types of corrosion through surface treatment.

zinc primer steel fabrication

Zinc phosphate primers provides inhibitive or active corrosion protection to protect the steel. Let’s take a look at what is it and the process involved.

There are many reasons why steel surfaces are treated, from making them more attractive through to protecting them against scratching, peeling, extreme weather and, of course, corrosion

Zinc phosphate primers are formulated with a mineral zinc phosphate that provides inhibitive or active corrosion protection to protect the steel. Let’s take a look at what is it and the process involved.

What Is Zinc Phosphate Priming?

Steel surfaces can be painted with specially formulated primers in order to improve corrosion resistance as well as boost their visual appeal, with one of the most popular applications being zinc phosphate priming.

Zinc phosphate is an inorganic chemical compound that can provide active or inhibitive corrosion resistance to low-alloy and carbon steel and zinc primer has been used in everything from construction to ship building to the automotive industry.

The Application Process?

Zinc phosphate can be applied in a number of different ways:

Brushing: Brushing is a simple process, but it is slow and labour-intensive (thus expensive). Nonetheless, it provides very high shearing forces between the paint and the substrate.

Rolling: Rolling is quicker and more suitable for larger areas – however they must be flat. Therefore, rolling is not suitable for many steel sections.

Spraying: Spraying is more effective for steel sections with sharp angles. This involves atomising the primer into fine droplets and spraying them onto the section to form a continuous film.

For more information on the different types of corrosion you will want to protect your steel from, please see below:

• Uniform attack corrosion
• Pitting corrosion
• Intergranular corrosion
• Crevice corrosion
• Galvanic corrosion

If you need quality steel that is fabricated to suit your unique needs, or steel surface treatment to protect your steel, contact Steel Fabrication Services today.

Our team of expert structural steel fabricators have the experience and knowledge to answer any of your questions and will ensure that you find the best solution to suit your needs.

To contact us today, simply call, fax, email or drop by our Brookvale location.