Difference Between Hot Dipped and Electro Galvanized Wire

Galvanized wire can be divided into hot-dipped galvanized wire and electro-galvanized wire considering the different galvanizing process. What’s the difference between them? Let’s review it together.

1. Making Method

Hot-dip galvanized wire is immersed in the molten zinc solution at about 500°C to be galvanized. In this case, the zinc coating serves as a barrier layer on top of the steel to prevent corrosive substances from reaching the underlying steel or iron. While electro galvanized wire is galvanized through electroplating process. That is, running a current of electricity through a zinc solution with a zinc anode and steel conductor. This is the main difference between them. 

2. Thickness of Zinc

Due to the different galvanizing methods, their zinc thickness is different. That of the hot dipped galvanized wire is thicker, often more than 35 μm, or even as high as 275 μm. While electro galvanized wire has a thin zinc layer, say less than 15 μm. It is usually manufactured at a slow speed but the zinc layer is evenly distributed.

3. Corrosion Resistance

As we know, the thickness of zinc coating plays an important role in resisting corrosion and rust. The thicker the zinc layer, the stronger the corrosion resistance. Therefore, it can be clearly inferred that the hot dipped galvanized wire is more resistant than electro galvanized wire. 

4. Service Life

The ability to prevent rust is closely related to longevity. The hot-dipped galvanized wire has a much longer life, averaging between 20 to 50 years. However, the lifespan of electro-galvanization wire is shorter, ranging from several months to a few years only. 

5. Flexibility

The hardness is much reduced under the operation of high temperature so that the hot-dip galvanized wire is flexible and ductile enough to be further processed. Instead, the electro galvanized wire remains bigger hardness and higher precision.

6. Appearance

When the process is complete, the finished coating of hot dipped galvanized wire is dark, slightly rough and dull. Sometimes there may exist many small zinc blocks, water lines, and drop tumors. Its color is silver-white. The surface of electro galvanized iron wire is bright, smooth, and shiny. Its color is silver-white with yellow.

7. Cost

Significantly hot-dip GI wire is always more expensive than electro galvanized one (approximately 40% more expensive for comparable products). Because it needs more intensive galvanizing process and offers greater resistance to rust and corrosion.

8. Application

Generally, hot-dip galvanized products are more widely used in outdoor environments that require strong corrosion resistance, such as transportation, building, electric power, energy,  automobile, petrochemical, and other industries. And it is also popular in harsh or extreme environments.

But the electro-galvanized steel is more suitable for indoor environments that require general anti-corrosion, which makes it ideal for architectural or aesthetic applications.

Conclusion

Knowing more about the differences between hot-dip GI wire and electro GI wire will be helpful to your purchase. If you still have some other confusion, welcome to consult Wanzhi Steel for more details. Here is a webpage for your reference: https://wanzhifence.com/galvanized-wire-for-sale/.