Zinc coating for Hydraulic Cylinders
From agricultural products to oil drilling industry, you can see hydraulic cylinders doing the heavy work in almost all the sectors. The oil-based actuators are heavy, big and they more than lift, push, pull and crunch their weight. They are also exposed and most times the product the part of the machine that needs the most care. That is where zinc coating of hydraulic cylinders come in handy.
Also known as the Galvanization process, a protective layer of zinc coating is applied on iron or steel to protect against rust and outside elements. Discovered in the early 17th century, zinc coating is now a prerequisite for people looking to protect their iron and steel wares against, water and acidic environments. And since the moment we started making hydraulic cylinders, we have offered zinc coating of hydraulic cylinders along with other paints and powder coating options.
While we do offer a variety of options when it comes to the protection of the outside barrel of hydraulic cylinders, zinc coating is an option we tout as well as refer to all our clients because there is just no comparison with anything out there in the market when it comes to protection.
Why Zinc Coating of Hydraulic Cylinders?
The obvious answer for zinc coating of hydraulic cylinder is protection against rust. Hydraulic cylinders are going to be out in the work, in the environment, sun, air, water all beating down on the metallic surface so the first and most obvious attack is always rust. Rusting of metals weaken the whole integrity of the cylinder and instead of applying another coat, the whole barrel of the cylinder needs to be replaced when rusts take hold.
But due to the sacrificial nature of zinc, they are electronegative compared to iron, when iron comes in contact with zinc, it oxidizes, protecting the underlying steel. The electronegativity of zinc works against the formation of rust. Even when a part of the zinc coated hydraulic cylinder barrel is exposed, zinc coating still protects the underlying steel as long as it is close enough to couple and oxidize.
Zinc Coating of Hydraulic Cylinder vs. Powder Coating
The reason for both powder coating and zinc coating of hydraulic cylinders are the same, for protection, but the effectiveness of the two can be a who different thing. Here are some of the places where zinc coating and powder coating differ;
How is Zinc Coating of Hydraulic Cylinder Done?
Multiple methods of zinc coating are available to the customers based on their thickness level needs. Two distinctive methods are used for zinc coating of hydraulic cylinders, hot-dip galvanizing and electro galvanizing.
- Hot-dip Galvanizing: As the name probably already gives a hint, hot-dip galvanizing process involves a hot solution and dipping of the steel to be coated in the said solution. There are multiple steps to be carried our beforehand, but in gist that is what this whole process is about.
Steel to be coated is first cleaned with a caustic solution, getting rid of all the oil, dirt, paint and foreign substances. The cleaned steel is then rinsed thoroughly and a coat of zinc ammonium chloride is applied to stop oxidation of the cleaned surface with the air. The coated steel is then dipped in a zinc bath, melt in a tub by high temperature. The steel is kept in the bath until its temperature finds equilibrium with that of the bath. Then the steel is cooled leaving behind a thick coat of zinc on the body of the steel.
- Electro Galvanizing: Again, the name itself gives aways some aspect of the process involved, in this case, electricity. This process of zinc coating is utilized when the required thickness is low. This process is similar to that of high school science experiment when electric current is passed through a saline solution with zinc anode and after a while the zinc deposited on the steel conductor. A high school experiment but conducted in a slightly larger scale when it comes to zinc coating of hydraulic cylinders.
Eurobalt Engineering Offers Zinc Coating of Hydraulic Cylinders
Frequently we have clients who come to us and tell us they need to deploy a large cylinder near sea water or in oil fields or in drilling mines. They want extra protection and one thing that has never failed us in the time since we started offering hydraulic cylinder is zinc coating. Even when clients do not ask for zinc coating, we advise them to take it as the protection offered is just worth the time and money spent.
Through our all production under one roof commitment, Eurobalt Engineering continues to provide zinc coating of hydraulic cylinders. Do not just powder coat, or use a primer, come work with us and we will make sure your cylinder (made by us) lasts longer than any other cylinders that you have used in the past.
