Corrosion is one of the biggest causes of loss in the industrial sector. Every year it can result in billions of losses for businesses in every kind of industry. It can be particularly bad for manufacturers, utilities, and transportation. As the top ERW steel tube supplier West Midlands has, we appreciate the scale of the issue. Luckily, we can provide finishing to help.
Protective plating
One of the ways to address the corrosion problem is to invest in plating. The process can add a thin protective layer of a metal to a substrate. It will have a much higher level of corrosion resistance so it can massively increase the lifecycle of the items.
In the past cadmium was the go to option for plating. However, the metal is highly toxic. Repeat exposure to it over a long period of time can causing poisoning. This can have some awful symptoms, including fatigue, vomiting, and fever. It can also cause medical complications like cancer and organ system toxicity.
Because of the harm cadmium can cause, zinc has been the top choice for plating since the 80s. It can still offer a fantastic level of corrosion resistance but without the risk of poisoning. As a result, it is a far more bio-friendly option. Cadmium is only suitable for very specific operations and must meet strict regulations.
Are there times when you shouldn’t use zinc?
We are proud to offer zinc plating with our tubing. It is one of the reasons why we are the best ERW steel tube supplier West Midlands has. However, there are times when you shouldn’t use it. We can offer advice about these too.
Firstly, you should not choose zinc plate for critical steel parts if they are for use in higher temperature settings. As the temperature rises, the performance of the zinc will decrease. Embrittlement can occur when you exceed 260 Celsius (500 Fahrenheit). It can allow rapid corrosion and part failure.
There are some occasions when corrosion can still occur and cause problems with zinc. For example, you should not use it in marine or seawater environments. It is also not suitable for parts in confined spaces if there will be heavy moisture/condensation.
Plus, you should not use zinc for moving parts that will come into contact with one another. The friction will cause heat and harm the performance of the coating.
Talk to the top ERW steel tube supplier in the West Midlands
Union Steel Tubes has been providing high quality products to industrial clients for years. We produce a wide selection at our mills, including a choice of shapes, different diameters, and several wall thicknesses. We can finish the tube in a number of ways, including zinc plating to increase the corrosion resistance.
So, if you are planning to create anything using ERW tubing but have concerns about corrosion, we can give you peace of mind. Order from the most reliable ERW steel tube supplier West Midlands has today.
