Are galvanized trailers worth it? (9 reasons)
In this blog post, we will explore the following topic: Are galvanized trailers worth it? We will explain what a galvanized trailer is, why choose one and how to maintain it.
Are galvanized trailers worth it?
Yes, galvanized trailers are totally worth it as they require very little maintenance and will last a very long time.
Here are the top 10 reasons to choose a galvanized trailer:
- Great freedom of creation;
- Outstanding mechanical performance;
- Unparalleled durability;
- Resistance to all weather;
- Ready-to-use products;
- Galvanization + powder coating: doubly protected products;
- A resolutely sustainable process;
- Full protection;
- An economical solution;
- Durability and reliability.
What exactly are galvanized trailers?
Galvanized trailers are made from steel that has gone through a chemical process that prevents corrosion; galvanized steel is the result of hot-dip galvanizing.
The procedure coats the steel with a thin layer of zinc, a protective metal whose rust will not be able to attack. By immersing the steel in a bath of pure zinc that has been melted at a temperature of about 460˚C (860˚F), the ensuing chemical reaction fuses the zinc and the steel. Unlike paint, zinc does not only act as a sealer by coating steel, but zinc becomes a permanent part of the steel.
The outer layer of galvanized steel is primarily zinc; the subsequent layers are a combination of zinc and iron, and the inner layer is pure steel. These multiple layers endow galvanized steel with the amazing ability to resist corrosion.
The advantages of a galvanized trailer
– A hot-dip galvanized trailer will maintain its resale value
– Pressure washing will not damage a hot-dip galvanized trailer
– Hot-dip galvanized trailers resist potential scratches from rocks, chains, cargo and machinery
– A galvanized steel trailer is protected against corrosion for approximately 50 years
– The service life of a galvanized trailer is at least 25 years
– The average cost to sand and paint a 24-foot trailer is around $ 2,500.00.
What is the lifespan of a galvanized trailer?
Since hot-dip galvanizing is not an application, it is the thickness of the coating that will dictate the life of your trailer. The thickness of the zinc on your trailer is determined by the steel and its composition. For small trailers, the zinc coating is 3 mils; for a gooseneck, the overlap is 4 mils.
The environment and contaminants on the road, such as salt and de-icers, will affect its lifespan. It is therefore important during winter and after use to rinse your trailer in order to remove any salt residue.
Why is the coating of galvanized trailers sometimes rough?
The hot-dip galvanizing process is done by immersion in molten zinc. The trailers are hooked up and soaked. When an asymmetric and complex part is submerged, it is difficult to obtain a perfectly uniform coating. It is therefore normal to see some rougher surfaces and sometimes even small accumulations of zinc in closed corners.
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Galvanized trailers are also environmentally friendly
Galvanized steel offers undeniable advantages in terms of the high environmental quality of the living environment and buildings, meeting the expectations of architects, designers, developers and customers, increasingly concerned about environmental issues.
Galvanization improves paint resistance by 20 to 50% and also generates fewer carbon emissions. One coat of paint is sufficient in the application process. Steel is therefore a very good answer for earthquake protection (iron is predictable and calculable): less energy, less maintenance
Zinc is a non-ferrous metal that can therefore be reused indefinitely while retaining all its properties. Thus, 30% of world production today comes from recycled zinc and recovered at the end of its life, sometimes many years after its first use!
Energy and water-efficient, resistant and durable. Galvanized steel, therefore, meets all the Grenelle environment standards in terms of eco-construction.
Thus associated with other materials, it allows a multitude of thermal and acoustic insulation solutions and it retains all of its properties throughout the life of the structure. The galvanized product – zinc in metallic form – is not acutely toxic, either by inhalation or by mouth. It is therefore usually considered neutral.
Exceptional longevity, maintenance-free. The parts protected by galvanization have an exceptional longevity, in all environments, but also in contact with water, soil or many organic products. Thus, in an urban industrial standard environment known as C3 (standard NF EN ISO 12944-2), zinc will lose between 0.7 and 2 μm per year, bare steel between 25 and 50 μm per year. Galvanization, therefore, offers between 25 and 40 times more protection.
A galvanized trailer will last longer
More than a coating or a paint, galvanization creates a real fusion between materials: iron zinc alloys.
Thus the latter offer remarkable resistance and adhesion due to the melting and progressiveness of the layers of the zinc base steel and the creation on the surface of a stable passivating layer of zinc carbonate.
The science of our industry and the expertise of the Group lie in the alloys added to the baths which increase the intermetallic compounds for more performance.
If the zinc layer is scratched deep down to the iron, then the peripheral zinc will produce salts that will slowly fill the wound like regrowing skin. Paints do not offer this characteristic, causing oxidation which will attack the support and go under the coating to peel it off from the inside: rust attacks!
Redox is a chemical reaction in which an exchange of electrons occurs between two elements. The one that captures electrons is called an oxidant (iron in this case); whoever gives them the reducing agent (zinc). Zinc’s natural electrochemical characteristics, like flashlight batteries that were carbon-zinc, are therefore used for even more protection.
Corrosion is the result of the attack of a metal by an aggressive external agent.
This is a normal physicochemical reaction: the metal, therefore, seeks to return to its initial stage of ore. Zinc is no exception to this rule. Assaulted, it then produces layers of zinc oxide, ZN (OH) 2, ZNCO3. These layers are created by the alternation of wet and dry conditions.
Conclusions
When buying a trailer, you will have found the option of being galvanized or painted. Surely you have been asked what this finish means. Galvanizing is the electrochemical process by which one metal can be covered with another. The function of galvanizing is to protect the surface of the metal on which the process is carried out.
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FAQ on Are galvanized trailers worth it?
How to clean a galvanized trailer?
It is easy to clean a galvanized trailer: If white or milky deposits appear, you should brush and wash them with a CLR type or vinegar-based cleanser. Rinse and pat dry.
How to paint a galvanized trailer?
If you want to repaint a galvanized trailer, you must first ‘remove it’, i.e. pass a special product before painting it, this product will allow the paint to hold onto the zinc, otherwise, it will not hold 2 seasons.
How to protect galvanized steel?
Galvanizing is the most durable method of protecting metal from corrosion. The metal is immersed in a zinc bath, which gives it a protective layer. If this layer is damaged, the metal underneath will start to rust.
What metal is used for galvanizing?
More than a coating or a paint, galvanization creates a real fusion between iron zinc alloys.
