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What is Zinc Passivation

I have a customer that calls out zinc passivate as the finish on their cold rolled steel (1018 steel) on a small hat section bracket job. We do a lot of gold, clear and black zinc jobs (through outside process platers) and have never heard of zinc passivate. All of our platers are dumbfounded by this callout and have no idea what it is either. Can anyone help me to understand what this process is and possibly where I could get this done?

Thank you.

Ken Stevens
- Livermore, California

The process of chromate conversion coating of zinc plated parts is sometimes called passivation. I'm virtually sure the customer is looking for zinc plating followed by chromate conversion coating; but I have no idea whether s/he wants clear or yellow or some other color.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

Zinc Plating by Geduld

Zinc plated steel is almost always a bright, silver colored finish. Chromate conversion coatings are applied for increased corrosion resistance. The chromate conversion coatings are available (usually) in blue, yellow, olive drab, black etc. Another name for the chromate conversion coating is passivate.

Vic Waldman
- Naugatuck, Connecticut

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