1.How does the thickness of the galvanized layer affect the service life?
Standard coatings (e.g., 180-275g/m² on both sides): Suitable for dry, low-corrosion environments (such as inland areas), with an anti-corrosion lifespan of approximately 10-15 years.
Thick coatings (e.g., 350-600g/m² on both sides): Suitable for highly corrosive environments such as high humidity and high salt spray (coastal areas, industrial areas, and foggy mountainous areas), with an anti-corrosion lifespan of up to 20-30 years.
Note: For every 100g/m² increase in coating thickness, the anti-corrosion lifespan can be extended by 5-8 years (under the same environment).
2.How does the usage environment affect the service life?
Low-corrosion environments (such as arid inland areas, high-altitude areas without industrial pollution): The corrosion rate is slow, with zinc coating loss of approximately 1-3g/m²/year. Thick coatings can easily last over 25 years.
Moderate-corrosion environments (such as suburban areas and lightly industrialized areas): The corrosion rate is 3-8g/m²/year, requiring a coating of at least 275g/m² to guarantee a lifespan of 15-20 years.
High-corrosion environments (such as within 3 km of the coast, around chemical plants, and in areas affected by acid rain): The corrosion rate is 8-20g/m²/year, requiring a coating of at least 450g/m². Additional anti-corrosion measures (such as painting) are recommended; otherwise, localized rust may occur within 10 years.
3.How does installation and maintenance affect service life?
If the bracket's coating is scratched during installation (e.g., due to untreated drilling or cutting), or if it is exposed to prolonged water or dust accumulation (causing localized electrochemical corrosion), rust will accelerate and shorten its lifespan.
Regularly cleaning surface debris and repairing damaged coatings can extend the corrosion protection period by 10%-20%.
4.What are the general design standards in the industry?
The photovoltaic industry generally requires that the service life of the brackets match that of the photovoltaic modules (25-30 years). Therefore, the selection of galvanized sheet metal must meet the following requirements:
Inland low-corrosion areas: 275g/m² or higher on both sides is recommended (corresponding to a zinc layer thickness of approximately 40μm).
Coastal or industrially polluted areas: 450g/m² or higher on both sides is recommended (corresponding to a zinc layer thickness of approximately 65μm), or a dual corrosion protection method of "galvanizing + painting" can be used.
Some international standards (such as IEC standards) require a salt spray test of at least 1000 hours (equivalent to more than 15 years of corrosion protection in coastal areas).
5.Under normal use and maintenance, what is the anti-corrosion life of the galvanized sheet of the photovoltaic bracket?
Low-corrosion environment: 20-30 years (thick coating);
Moderate-corrosion environment: 15-20 years (medium-thick coating);
High-corrosion environment: 10-15 years (thick coating + additional protection required)