Applications
Due to their high corrosion resistance, electrogalvanized products are recommended for numerous applications in the automotive industry.
Electrogalvanized products, in both single and double-sided versions, are particularly well-suited for exposed body parts.
Mechanical properties
The dimensional feasibility of electrogalvanized coatings depends on the choice of substrate steel grade (see corresponding technical sheets) and on the manufacturing route taken.
Surface appearance
The surface quality obtained meets the most stringent requirements with regard to final painted appearance of external body components.
Hardness
The electrogalvanized coating consists of pure zinc and is therefore ductile, enabling it to withstand large deformations.
Suitable surface preparation prior to electrogalvanizing ensures coating adhesion.
Coating thickness
Unless otherwise specified, the standard coating thicknesses offered are 5 and 7.5 µm per side. However, other thicknesses may be considered. Please contact us for more information about other coating thicknesses.
Coating process
Electrogalvanized coatings are obtained by electrolytically depositing a layer of pure zinc.
The absence of heat treatment during the coating process enables electrogalvanized coatings to be employed without restriction on virtually all the steel grades developed by ArcelorMittal for the automotive industry.
The electrodeposition process makes it possible to achieve a very high purity coating.
Recommendations
Corrosion
Electrogalvanized coatings offer excellent corrosion protection, even when damaged (impact, scratches, stone chipping), due to the sacrificial electrochemical behaviour of zinc with respect to iron.
Drawing
Electrogalvanized coatings have excellent intrinsic formability, making them suitable for the most severe drawing operations.
The tribological behaviour of electrogalvanized coatings is slightly inferior to that of hot-dip coatings, and can justify the use of an appropriate chemical surface treatment for the most challenging parts.
Welding
Electrogalvanized steels have a wide resistance spot welding range suited to industrial requirements.
Adhesive bonding
Like all zinc coatings, electrogalvanized films show good adhesive bonding behaviour, adhesion to the coating, adhesion of the coating to the metal and cohesion of the coating itself. The quality of bonding is determined essentially by the type of adhesive, the joining conditions, the nature of the protective oil and any chemical treatment that may have been performed.
Surface treatment
Electrogalvanized products coated on one or both sides can be phosphated and painted at the user's premises using all current processes.
