Choosing the right material for your project is crucial. Steel is a widely used material for various manufacturing and industrial purposes. Galvanized steel is a popular building material due to its outstanding durability, versatility, price, and corrosion resistance. In this blog, we will discuss the five things that you should know about Galvanized Steel tubes.
Before that, let’s first learn about Galvanized Steel Tubes.
About Galvanized Steel Tubes and Manufacturing Process
Zinc-Iron coatings make galvanized tubes the most popular steel tubes used in construction. Galvanization is the process used to manufacture these steel tubes. In this process, steel tubes are coated with zinc to act as a barrier to corrosive elements and protect the base metal over a long period of time. High-quality steel tubes are the best choice for projects and industries, including agriculture, automotive, construction, etc.
When choosing steel tubes, you should consider these five things about Galvanized Steel Tubes for better decision making Clear all your doubts regarding APL Apollo Galvanized steel products so that you can choose the best for your construction.
Things you need to know about Galvanized Steel Tubes.
Inexpensive Building Material
Galvanized steel is cheaper than other structural steel products. It costs four times less than stainless steel. Because it is non-corrosive, it requires little maintenance. However, the welder needs protection from harmful zinc fumes while working with galvanized steel. In addition, the labor cost is half that of stainless steel. This reduces project costs considerably.
A Long-lasting Product
Galvanized steel structures can last more than 50 years in a sustainable environment. Galvanized steel can withstand severe water exposure for over 20 years. Besides, it requires little to no maintenance to keep the product in good condition.
● Highly Used in Auto Industry
Galvanized steel is used in cars. The majority of cars today are manufactured with zinc-coated bodies. After imported Japanese models started using galvanized steel in the 1980s, American consumers began demanding it in car models. Subsequently, American car makers switched to these zinc-coating steel tubes.
● Used for Many Applications.
Galvanized steel tubes are strong enough to be used for railway vehicles, chemicals, machinery, construction, bridges, roads, etc. Galvanized square steel tubes are best suited to carry water, gas, oil, and other low-pressure fluids. The hot-dipped galvanized steel tubes have a uniform coating, strong adhesion, and long-life advantages.
● Electro Galvanization Process:
Pre-treated steel is still galvanized by hot-dipping in molten zinc and wiping away excess zinc, but there are also new methods to apply a protective layer of zinc. Electro galvanization is another process where a positively charged zinc anode is attached to a negatively charged applied to a steel sheet. It can also be galvanized with a zinc-aluminum mixture. The “dry galvanizing” or “shot blasting” process makes it highly adsorbent to paint, rubber, and powder coatings.
GI Pipes and Tubes
GI are galvanized iron pipes and tubes. They are also called coated iron pipes as they are immersed in zinc baths. They are steel tubes that are immersed in molten zinc using the galvanization process. This offers protection for the tubes from ageing and rusting. The corrosion resistance offered by the Galvanized iron pipes makes them a preferred choice for architects and designers for structural use.Galvanized iron products are classified into three grades depending on their weights and inner diameter thickness.
Advantages of GI Pipes:
Ideal for large projects – GI pipes are ideal for large building projects, manufacturing units etc because they are more durable and corrosion resistant. They help in the faster and more efficient execution of projects.
Cheaper maintenance- GI pipes have a zinc coating which improves the sturdiness and adds to the durability of the structure. The corrosion resistance of these GI tubes is very high leading to very low chances of leakage which leads to low maintenance.
Protection of pipes – Galvanization is the most effective and cost-effective way of protecting steel or iron from corrosion since it doesn’t involve much labour or complexity.
Enhanced performance- Galvanization increases the thickness of the pipes which enhances their performance. The inner diameter thickness improves the durability of the pipes. They are cheaper, lightweight and easy to handle making them a better choice for designers and architects.
GP Pipes and Tubes
GP stands for galvanized pipe. Their manufacturing process is different from GI tubes. GP tubes are made from pre-galvanized sheets.GP pipes are made of carbon steel sheets which are electroplated with Zinc and then rolled into pipes. In most homes, galvanized steel pipes are installed. APL Apollo was the first company to introduce GP Tubes in India.
Advantages of GP pipes
Improved life expectancy – GP pipes increase the longevity of pipes by preventing corrosion and mineral deposits. It is a lead-free alternative to water supply lines. They have an improved level of toughness which makes them more durable.
Increased corrosion resistance- Pre-galvanized GP pipes have higher corrosion resistance that improves the durability of the pipes.
Uniform microstructure- GP pipes are made from steel sheets of uniform thickness which provides a uniform microstructure to the tubes.
Difference Between GI and GP Pipes
APL Apollo manufactures both types of pipes. They are used for different applications. GI and GP has some differences that make it easier for customers to make decisions. Here are the following differences between Iron pipes and galvanized pipes:
GI pipes are carbon steel pipes immersed in galvanic baths to give them a zinc coating. On the other hand, GP pipes are made out of thin steel sheets that are first electroplated with zinc and then rolled into pipes.
The hot dip coating in GI pipes may not provide a uniform coating but it is a quick process. The electroplating process used for GP pipes is slower in comparison but provides a uniform coating.
GP pipes offer superior quality finishing than GI tubes.
Steel galvanized pipes are ideal for tubing or plumbing applications.
Raw water and rural water treatment applications often use GI pipes.
GI is easy to install and maintain than galvanized pipe but GP pipes are superior and have more longevity and finish.
In Conclusion
Galvanized steel tube is an eco-friendly product ideal for urban and coastal applications. It is one of the oldest building materials with tremendous demand in the market. APL Apollo is a leading manufacturer of galvanized steel products. They manufacture pre-painted galvanized steel sections and tubes that can be used in numerous applications in diverse industries. APL Apollo uses DFT and ERW technology to create superior-quality GI and GP pipes. You can check out their entire range at www.aplapollo.com.
