Abstract
The article discusses the future of the production of protective coatings based on the hot-dip galvanizing of iron-carbon alloys, such as steel or cast iron. Currently exploited zinc deposits will be exhausted in the next two decades and it will be necessary to start the exploitation of new deposits in order to maintain the supply or quantity of Zn on the global market. In both cases, it will be related to the increasing cost of zinc on world markets. Zinc-based protective coatings (one of the best corrosion protection methods) constitute almost 50% of the world’s zinc consumption. Economic issues with the constant increase in the price of Zn will force the change or modification of hot-dip galvanizing technology. The article presents data on the production, consumption and development of zinc prices on the global market. Possible directions are presented which producers of zinc coatings will have to follow in order to maintain sales markets, such as the modification of chemical compositions of protective alloys which could be an alternative to pure zinc coatings and the possibility of limiting zinc consumption based on the influence of the surface of galvanized elements, i.e. its metal matrix, and surface roughness.
Highlights
Galvanizing is the most popular method to provide protection for Fe-C alloys against corrosion, especially of steel, and cast iron or cast steel
With the increase the price of zinc, aluminum alloys (Galfan, Galvalume etc.) may find greater use and the development of new techniques for applying a dip coating containing a greater amount of Al. may prove to be more economically advantageous
Another option is to obtain more knowledge and control over the process of the protective coating growth in the hot-dip galvanizing treatment. This would allow for the adjustment of the treatment technology – the preparation of the surface before galvanizing, as well as the time of the immersion of the iron component in molten zinc to obtain the appropriate level thickness of the zinc coating
Summary
Galvanizing is the most popular method to provide protection for Fe-C alloys against corrosion, especially of steel, and cast iron or cast steel. Protective coatings consume 50% of global zinc production (Fig. 1). Due to the very important role of zinc in the global corrosion protection industry, an analysis of the quantity, availability and price of this element was carried out, as well as the direction of potential development of the hot-dip galvanizing industry
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