Galvanized Iron
Galvanized iron is iron or, more commonly today, low carbon steel that has been coated with a layer of zinc to help protect it from rust and corrosion. The most common method is hot dip galvanizing, where the metal is cleaned and then dipped into molten zinc. The zinc coating acts as a barrier against moisture and also provides sacrificial protection, meaning the zinc will corrode first to help protect the underlying metal if the surface is scratched.
Galvanized iron is widely used for outdoor and industrial applications such as fencing, guardrails, fasteners, ducting, roofing components, and structural parts where corrosion resistance is important. It can be cut, drilled, and formed, but welding or high heat cutting can burn off the coating and produce zinc fumes, so proper ventilation and protective equipment are important. Over time, the coating may dull or develop a whitish surface film in damp conditions, which is normal and usually not a sign of failure.
