Welding Galvanized Structural Steel

It is a great process to prevent corrosion.

Welding galvanized structural steel.

Hot dipped galvanized steel is dipped into a vat of molten zinc which coats the steel. The galvanized steel is removed and allowed to cool. Welding thick galvanized coatings or butt welds or welding creases or corners where the galvanization naturally builds up benefits from grinding the galvanization off first. Welding galvanized steel is a dangerous task since the galvanized zinc coating on the metal becomes extremely toxic when it s heated.

Aws d 19 0 calls for welds of galvanized steel on areas free of zinc. Tions for welding galvanized steel as for galvanizing welded steel must be integrated into the overall structural fabrication design. The challenge is welding over the zinc coating. Arc welding requires striking a low voltage high current arc between an electrode and the workpiece base metal.

Structural steel welding semih genculu p e. Take the proper safety precautions by wearing a welding mask a good welding respirator gloves and an apron. Welding on galvanized steel can be necessary if the final structure is too large to be dipped in a galvanizing bath or for structures that must be welded in the field. As long as the zinc oxide gets access to air to burn off.

All commonly prac ticed welding and cutting techniques gas metal arc shielded metal arc man ual metal arc oxyacetylene friction re sistance can be used on galvanized steel see american welding society s. Preparation of base metal and welding techniques for sheet plate and structural steel are the same as for welding ungalvanized steel. Galvanized steel welds similar to uncoated carbon steel when properly prepped. The intense heat generated with this arc melts the base metal and allows the joining of two components.

While it is typically a good idea to complete any welding or fabrication before galvanizing the steel which will result in a more corrosion resistant finished product under some circumstances steel must be welded after. Thus for galvanized structural fabrications the zinc coating should be removed at least 1 4 2 5 10 cm. Galvanized parts are used in a wide variety of industries including automotive structural steel construction oil field and many more. Techniques for avoiding entrapment of zinc as discussed in sections 6 1 and 6 2 shall be employed.

Electro galvanized steel as its name indicates is a plating process where the steel is placed in an electrically charged solution of. The weld strength should be the same whether welding galvanized steel or not.