Summary for heavy white rust on zinc ingots Discussion
heavy white rust on zinc ingots is the issue here: Geoff Crowley of Crithwood Ltd. says SHG 99.995% min. Korea zinc ingots are stored outdoors, and rain leaves them coated with a thick white powder. The excerpt shown does not include any replies, so there is no documented answer in the provided thread about whether the white rust will hurt their use in galvanizing. Based on the question alone, the concern is about surface oxidation from weather exposure on high-purity zinc before it is used in the process. Because no responder comments are included, the page as provided only establishes the storage condition and the potential contamination/oxidation problem, not a confirmed remedy or impact assessment.
Q. Dear Sirs,
Can anyone help me on this:
We are using SHG 99.995% min. Korea zinc.
We store all these zinc ingots in open area, and when it’s raining, the surface of these ingots is coated with thick white powder.
1) Can anyone tell me what is this powder?
2) Will it effect the quality of galvanizing coating?
Thanks/regards
Jeet
Param Jeet
Galvanizing – Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
November 23, 2012
We once used ingots that had been under the sea for over 30 years. A ship carrying Zn and Cu ingot sank off Spain. Over 30 years later the load was recovered.
We used some of the zinc for galvanizing. It was covered in white powdery oxides and carbonates of zinc. It was a little slower to melt (due insulating effect of the oxide), but produced fine galvanizing. It was a bit smelly when it has shellfish growing on the ingots.
Geoff Crowley
Crithwood Ltd.
Westfield, Scotland, UK
