How does quality galvanizing increase the durability of pivot irrigation systems?

In today's article we will reveal what are the advantages of well galvanized pivot irrigation systems and how if this process is carried out with high quality and according to standards leads to a significant increase in their service life.

Steel has been at the heart of modern construction and has been so since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. But if it is not protected and exposed to the effects of the environment, the steel immediately begins to corrode.

There are several ways to protect steel from weathering, but none of them is better than hot-dip galvanizing.

It is a process in which molten zinc bonds with the steel, forming multiple protective layers of alloy that protect the integrity of the steel for decades.

Valmont began galvanizing almost half a century ago and has become a leader in the industry.

Galvanized steel can be recycled endlessly, has a low carbon footprint and requires minimal maintenance. Hot dip galvanizing is environmentally friendly. Zinc is a natural and abundant mineral essential for life.

In the industrial world, 30% of the world's zinc supply comes from recycled sources, and 80% of the zinc that can be recycled is recovered.

By significantly extending the life cycle of steel and low or almost no maintenance, the galvanizing process significantly reduces the energy and resources required to manufacture, transport and maintain these structures.

In addition, zinc is a widespread natural mineral that can be recycled 100% without losing its physical or chemical properties.

In the field of metallurgy, zinc has a special relationship with steel. In a bonding process called hot-dip galvanizing, zinc is chemically bonded to steel to form a series of layers of zinc-iron alloy. The last layer is 100% zinc. These tightly bonded layers become extremely wear-resistant because the inner metal layers are harder than the base steel, so the protective zinc coating actually becomes harder than and part of the steel used in the structure.

In addition, zinc ages much more slowly than steel. In the process, its own protective oxide-carbonate film is formed on its surface. These remarkable qualities of zinc continue to protect steel over time. The second additional protection mechanism is the ability of zinc to protect steel by galvanic means.

When a scratch or abrasion occurs, the zinc coating will not be abraded by the stainless steel, because the steel cannot corrode in the immediate vicinity of the zinc coating, even when exposed to the influence of weather conditions. That is why the use of zinc and the galvanizing process provide maintenance-free protection of metal structures for decades, even in areas with a high degree of use and in harsh conditions.

The process of hot galvanizing includes 3 main stages:surface preparation, galvanizing and inspection. Preparation really starts at the design stage, and Valmont's team of experts can help you understand the design criteria of the right specifications for your product to increase the efficiency of the galvanizing process.

The material goes through three stages of cleaning to prepare the steel for galvanizing.

1. The first step is degreasing, in which dirt, oils and organic residues are removed. After that, the structure is rinsed.
2. The second step is a mild acid bath or pickling that will remove the milky iron oxide and etch the steel, then rinse again.
3. The third step of preparation is flushing. This step removes all remaining oxides and covers the steel with a protective layer to prevent further formation of oxides before galvanizing.

After the structure is clean and dry, it is immersed in a bath with molten zinc. When immersing the material, zinc flows into and around the entire structure, protecting all surfaces. While in the bath, chemical reactions take place between zinc and iron in the steel, in which a series of intermetallic layers of zinc iron and an outer layer of pure zinc are formed.

Quality inspection and assurance is the final step of the galvanizing process.

Pivots Valley are guaranteed high quality galvanizing, and the pivoting in the fields in Bulgaria and the world for decades are proof of the quality and durability of the materials from which they are made.

For more useful content, subscribe to our newsletter!