STRUCTURAL STEEL VS. GALVANIZED STEEL
While structural steel and galvanized steel are both used in industrial construction projects, structural steel is more common. Structural steel offers numerous advantages over galvanized steel thanks to its flexible composition. For instance, structural steel is mostly composed of iron but can also have chromium, carbon, and other metals added to it to adjust for tensile and shear strength. Galvanized steel, on the other hand, has a rigid composition consisting of steel dipped in zinc. Because its composition can't be altered, galvanized steel has limited applications.
STRUCTURAL STEEL IS MORE DURABLE
The stronger composition of structural steel increases its strength-to-weight ratio. So not only can it support heavier loads than galvanized steel, but it also weighs less. Again, galvanized steel's rigid makeup works against it as its strength-to-weight ratio is unchangeable. Furthermore, the zinc coating of galvanized steel can react to other metals, such as yellow brass or copper, weakening the material and putting it at risk of damage. For this reason, galvanized steel is unusable for underground applications. Structural steel, conversely, contains no radioactive metals.
STRUCTURAL STEEL IS SAFER
In addition to its radioactive nature, galvanized steel poses another danger: lead poisoning. The lead in galvanized steel can seep into the water or other liquid flowing through the pipe, creating a health hazard. And because lead corrodes quickly, damage can easily spread throughout the material. Structural steel poses no such risks as it does not contain lead.
FABRICATION OF STRUCTURAL STEEL
Structural steel's flexible composition makes it a vital commodity for construction projects of nearly every size. A myriad of components are often required for an array of applications. Examples of these structural steel components include steel beams, steel pipes, steel pipe shoes, steel trusses, and more. Professional structural steel fabricators should be able to fabricate any and all of these components to provide optimal service for their customers. And to do that, they need advanced robotic plasma cutting technology on their side.
