What are the main differences between stainless steel and zinc plated steel?

Answer 1

Stainless steels are various alloys of iron with mostly chromium, and molybdenum which makes a metal that is self- resistant to corrosion. However, it does not do as well with chlorides. There are various grades and various combinations of the alloying additives which are mixed into the iron while it is still molten. Some stainless steels are even heat treatable so that they can have greater strength. Stainless steel will have some corrosion problems at welds.
Galvanized steel is plain carbon steel which has usually been hot dipped into molted zinc (sometimes cadmium) and most commonly rolled into sheets or wire. The zinc bonds to the surface. The zinc is more chemically reactive to corrosion than the steel (iron) so that it protects the iron from corrosion even when there are some flaws. One name for this is anodic protection and it is a bit electrical in its effect, somewhat like a battery where one side corrodes and the other side is plated or "protected".
Galvanizing can also be applied like a paint, but like any other paint it can flake off.

Answer 2

Zinc Alloy Vs Stainless Steel

Answer 3

Stainless steel is an alloy which contains chromium, among other metals. A thin, hard, protective layer of chromium oxide protects it from corrosion. Stainless steel is fairly expensive. Its main uses are for tools and containers which come in contact with food or body fluids, like surgical instruments. To weld it you need inert gas to prevent it oxidising as the high temperatures. Zinc plated mild steel is much cheaper. As long as there's even a little of the zinc left, the steel won't rust. Zinc is more chemically active than iron, and oxidises in preference to the iron. By contrast, a coat of paint only protects the surface it covers.

Answer 4

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What are the main differences between stainless steel and zinc plated steel?

Answer 5

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In metallurgy, stainless steel is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 11.5% chromium content by mass. Stainless steel does not stain, corrode or rust as easily as ordinary steel (it "stains less"), but it is not stain-proof. It is also called corrosion resistant steel when the alloy type and grade are not detailed, particularly in the aviation industry. There are different grades and surface finishes of stainless steel to suit the environment to which the material will be subjected in its lifetime. Common uses of stainless steel are cutlery and watch straps. Stainless steel differs from carbon steel by amount of chromium present. Carbon steel rusts when exposed to air and moisture. This iron oxide film is active and accelerates corrosion by forming more iron oxide. Stainless steels have sufficient amount of chromium present so that a passive film of chromium oxide forms which prevents further corrosion

Answer 6

Hi. Stainless steel develops a hard oxide coating which resists further corrosion, similar to aluminum which gets coated with aluminum oxide which slows down further oxidation. Zinc is already hard to oxidize but not very strong, so it is applied to iron or steel to coat the metal and keep oxygen from it.

Answer 7

In metallurgy, stainless steel is defined as a ferrous alloy with a minimum of 10.5% chromium content.[1] The name originates from the fact that stainless steel does not stain, corrode or rust as easily as ordinary steel. This material is also called corrosion resistant steel when it is not detailed exactly to its alloy type and grade, particularly in the aviation industry. As such, there are now different and easily accessible grades and surface finishes of stainless steel, to suit the environment to which the material will be subjected to in its lifetime. Common uses of stainless steel are the everyday cutlery and watch straps.

Stainless steels have higher resistance to oxidation (rust) and corrosion in many natural and man made environments; however, it is important to select the correct type and grade of stainless steel for the particular application.

Zinc coatings prevent corrosion of the protected metal by forming a barrier, and by acting as a sacrificial anode if this barrier is damaged. When exposed to the atmosphere, zinc reacts with oxygen to form zinc oxide, which further reacts with water molecules in the air to form zinc hydroxide. Finally zinc hyroxide reacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to yield a thin, impermiable, tenacious and quite insoluble dull gray layer of zinc carbonate which adheres extremely well to the underlying zinc, so protecting it from further corrosion, in a way similar to the protection afforded to aluminium and stainless steels by their oxide layers.

Hot dip galvanizing deposits a thick, robust layer that may be more than is necessary for the protection of the underlying metal in some applications. This is the case in automobile bodies, where additional rust proofing paint will be applied. Here, a thinner form of galvanizing is applied by electroplating, called "electro-galvanization". However, the protection this process provides is insufficient for products that will be constantly exposed to corrosive materials such as salt water. Nevertheless, most nails made today are electro-galvanized.

Galvanic protection (also known as sacrificial-anode or cathodic protection) can be achieved by connecting zinc both electronically (often by direct bonding to the protected metal) and ionically (by submerging both into the same body of electrolyte, such as a drop of rain). In such a configuration the zinc is absorbed into the electrolyte in preference to the metal that it protects, and maintains that metal's structure by inducing an electric current. In the usual example, ingots of zinc are used to protect a boat's hull and propellers, with the ocean as the common electrolyte.

Answer 8

There are lots of differences:

Cost - stainless is more expensive.
Appearance - stainless can be polished to a bright finish
Corrosion resistance - stainless is generally regarded as more corossion resistant.
Hardness - stainless is generally much harder.