Masking to Allow for Intentionally Ungalvanized Areas
During the galvanizing processes, all surfaces are cleaned and coated with corrosion-inhibiting zinc. For some purposes, intentionally ungalvanized areas are required. Masking may be performed to accomplish this.
Masking is treating a portion of the steel surface so the area remains ungalvanized. Masking is not an exact science; additional work may still be required to remove unwanted zinc.
In most cases, it may be easier to grind off the zinc coating after galvanizing than to mask the material.
There are four major categories of masking materials:
- Acid-resistant, high-temperature tapes
- Water-based pastes and paint-on formulations
- Resin-based, high-temperature paints
- High-temperature greases and thread compounds
Consult with your galvanizer to arrive at the best solution for any particular design.
