Steel is a fantastically useful industrial material and one of the most popular, but its Achilles heel has always been corrosion. Steel can corrode, weaken, and fail due to a number of environmental and chemical factors. One of the best solutions to prevent steel from corroding or rusting in harsh environments, is to protect it with a powder coating or galvanizing process. These finishes help protect the steel without compromising the inner integrity of the metal.

Although hot-dip galvanizing and powder coating are proven to provide superior corrosion protection, often for decades, the longest lasting method is known as duplex coating, combining these two effective anti-corrosion methods into one. First the steel is galvanized, which acts much like a primer. Then a polymeric ‘powder’ coating can be applied to further protect the metal and enhance the finish. AZZ offers duplex coating for a wide variety of applications, allowing your steel to look great and last longer in any environment.

Duplex coating combines two effective anti-corrosion methods into one, to make steel over 2x more resistant to the elements than with just one of these methods alone. Galvanizing involves dipping the fabricated steel into molten zinc, where iron in the steel reacts with the zinc to form a tightly bonded alloy coating that is resistant to corrosion.

Powder coating is a process by which a polymer based powder is applied electrostatically to the metal, and then cured with heat. The results of this process are both long-lasting and chip and fade resistant. Powder coated steel has a beautiful finish that is extremely durable and comes in a variety to custom colors. At their Crowley, Texas facility AZZ combines these two processes to extend corrosion protection 1.5 to 2.3 times longer than either process independently. This improved resilience means that the life of the steel, along with maintenance intervals, is dramatically increased, considerably lowering total life-cycle expenses.

At the moment, no other protection method matches this enhanced coating system. As an added benefit, steel can be powder coated in an unlimited number of colors, and the finishes are truly eye-catching. Steel utilizing this duplex coating process can be used in a number of applications, from specialty architectural cladding, where the color options allow for new creative options, to more industrial applications in the demanding Automotive, Aviation, and Petro-Chem industries, among others.

Duplex coatings strengthen and extend the operational life of steel, whether it is being used architecturally or as part of an appliance. By enhancing its corrosion resistance, duplex coating also lengthens the product life and increases maintenance intervals, saving you money. Though steel is fantastically strong, it is still subject to corrosion, which can be accelerated by certain environmental conditions. AZZ’s duplex coatings offer you two layers of protection in a variety of colors to give extra life to your materials. To learn how AZZ can lower costs by making your steel components last for years longer, visit https://www.azz.com/products/powder-coating-new/duplex-coat.

Read more at azz.com