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Yellow zinc-galvanize comparison

I am trying to get a comparison of galvanizing and yellow zinc plating. I want to coat a product for outdoor use. Which is better? Why? What useful life before rust can be expected. Units will be outside in a field, could be close to oceans.

Thanks,

Tom Mandy
- Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
2002

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Zinc is zinc, and galvanized coatings are much thicker than electroplated coatings, so the galvanized coating will last much longer. However, and alloy zinc plating like zinc-nickel may be able to successfully compete against galvanizing.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2002

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Dear Ted,

I know this Q might be silly. Do you have any brief idea how much (how many times) the Zinc alloy plating cost more than the Blue-zinc plating? (both applied in Barrel)

Regards,

Chee Hong, Lee
- Singapore
2002

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I do not run a plating shop so I can't offer any real knowledge of that, Mr. Lee. Hopefully someone from an alloy zinc barrel plating shop will chime in. Meanwhile, it won't be an enormous difference because labor is similar and the alloy is mostly zinc.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2002