Post Overview

1. Industry Chain Structure

Upstream Sector

Raw Materials:

Steel Substrate: Requires specific mechanical properties (e.g., tensile strength, ductility) and surface quality (smoothness, oxide-free).

Zinc: High-purity (99.995%+) zinc with controlled melting point (419°C) to ensure coating uniformity.

Equipment Suppliers:

Automated cleaning/pickling systems, fluxing units, galvanizing kettles (440–465°C), and cooling/waste treatment systems.

Key technologies: IoT-enabled process control, energy-efficient heating.

Midstream Sector (Core Processing)

Surface Preparation

Degreasing → Acid pickling (HCl/H₂SO₄) → Fluxing (ZnCl₂/NH₄Cl).

Hot-Dip Galvanizing

Immersion in molten zinc (3–10 min), forming Zn-Fe alloy layers (Gamma, Delta, Zeta phases).

Post-Treatment

Quenching → Passivation (chromate/phosphates) → Inspection (coating thickness: 50–200 μm per ASTM A123).

Downstream Applications

Sector Applications Key Benefits

Construction Structural beams, guardrails, roofing 50+ years lifespan in harsh weather

Transport Highway crash barriers, bridge cables Salt-spray resistance (ASTM B117 compliant)

Energy Power transmission towers, solar mounts UV/heat stability (up to 200°C continuous)

Telecom 5G antenna poles, cable trays EMI shielding + maintenance-free durability

Agriculture Greenhouse frames, irrigation systems Chemical resistance to fertilizers/pesticides

2. Market Drivers

Sustainability: Zinc’s 100% recyclability aligns with circular economy trends.

Cost Efficiency: Long-term savings vs. stainless steel/painted alternatives.

Regulations: Bans on cold-galvanized pipes (e.g., China GB/T 3091-2015) boost demand.

3. Future Trends

Nano-Coating Hybrids: Graphene-enhanced zinc coatings for marine environments.

Smart Factories: AI-driven quality control (e.g., real-time thickness monitoring).