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Limiting Galvanic Corrosion, 302SS & Zn-Ni Plated Steel

What are options for limiting galvanic corrosion between 302 ss and Zn Ni Alloy plated 1038 steel? Increase steel plate thickness? Barrier coat the stainless (ie, electroless nickel)?

Myron Clark
Stanfield, North Carolina
1999

I'm not sure if you are reporting an actual problem, Mr. Clark, or a theoretical concern. In general, you specify the Zn-Ni alloy plating because you WANT this coating to exhibit a galvanic potential to protect the substrate.

The environment the item is exposed to is important; if it's clean and dry, you probably have little cause for concern. The second subject to consider is the relative surface areas of the Zn-Ni vs. the stainless; again you probably have relatively little cause for concern if the surface area of the active material, the Zn-Ni, is large compared to the area of the stainless.

But if the environment is wet and these are small Zn-Ni plated fasteners on large stainless steel items, you are probably right to be concerned, and the most effective thing to do might be to use plastic bushings and washers so the fasteners don't touch the stainless, or to paint the stainless so the exposed galvanic area is small.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
1999