Protective coatings are used to protect a variety of different metals from corrosion and environmental damage. Many different industries use a wide range of them to protect their products. For example, lots of metal balconies are coated in hot zinc spray to improve their corrosion resistance. They may also use powder coating as surface preparation to further strengthen the metal underneath.

There are many types of protective coatings and methods of surface preparation available, and each one has a different use. In our article, we’re going to break down what protective coatings are and how you can use them to improve the lifespan of your products.

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Which Substrates Require Special Protective Coatings?

The main substrates that require anti-corrosion protection are steel and iron. These two metals are the ones which are typically used to create outdoor products, like canopies or park benches. They’re also used in intricate industries, like automobile and maritime. Because of their frequent exposure to the environment, they need advanced coating systems and surface preparation to protect them from corrosion.

An example of one of the advanced protective coatings used is shot blasting. Shot blasting involves shooting steel shot or grit at a substrate’s surface. This takes away any rust or debris and gives a rough key to the substrate for subsequent coatings. We wrote an in-depth article on the subject here.

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What are Industrial Protective Coatings?

They are a type of coating used on substrates to protect them from corrosion. An example of this is hot dip galvanising, where metal is dipped in molten zinc. This is usually done in a large factory as it requires a lot of space to conduct. Galvanising is useful because it creates a protective layer that stops moisture from affecting the integrity of the metal.

Then, there is hot zinc spray, which works similarly to galvanising, but the substrate is sprayed in hot zinc rather than dipped in it. This acts as surface protection and is useful for awkwardly shaped and larger objects, it has very low heat transfer so there is no risk of heat distortion. It is also more cost-effective as it doesn’t need to be conducted in a large factory, like hot dip galvanising does.

Types of Protective Coatings on Metals?

There are plenty of options for you to choose from, like intumescent coating or powder coating. The one that you should pick depends on the outcome that you want. For example, an intumescent coating swells when it’s exposed to heat. This causes it to thicken, creating small bubbles which insulate the metal underneath and act as a fire retardant for a pre specified time depending on metal thickness.

Powder coating works well when combined with other advanced coating systems, like hot zinc spray. It is a protective and cosmetic finish available in many hundreds of colours and effects, there are also many types of anti-corrosion zinc powder coat primers and epoxy powders that can be used in combination with the finish coat for different situations depending on the final placement of the product.

If you have any questions about which anti-corrosion or surface preparation service is best for your products, then you can ask a member of our professional team by clicking here.

Protective coatings for corrosion do what they say on the tin. They protect substrates from corrosion caused by exposure to the environment. They’re also vital to the lifecycle of any metal product, improving its lifespan and protecting them from damage.

All methods outlined in this article work well for corrosion protection. The key is to find the one that works for you. For example, if your metal products are an awkward size or you’re looking to protect them, then hot zinc spraying will be the best method for you. Businesses like ours conduct this at our factory for the best results, if you’re looking to clean and prepare your metal items, then we recommend shot blasting.

We advise speaking with a professional to ensure the service you choose is one that offers your products the best protection. For free advice and a free quote on our wide range of services and surface preparation offers, contact our team today by clicking here.