Galvanised sheets

Galvanised steel sheets are widely used in the following industries:

• In the construction industry to manufacture structural elements for low-rise construction (light steel thin-walled structures), lining heat pipelines and various heat insulation, manufacture entry doors, elevators, reinforcement sections for PVC windows and plastic doors, European-type fasteners for plasterboards, etc

• In the automotive industry to manufacture external and internal car body parts, or to repair external body parts for public transport, eg buses and trams

• In the machine building and instrumentation industries to manufacture cases for electrical and mechanical equipment, home appliances, metering devices, packing

• To manufacture houseware (tableware, bowls, buckets, tanks, baths, etc)

The standards applied in different countries to set requirements for galvanised steel specify the range of steel grades and sizes. The key classification criteria of galvanized sheets include:

• Application of galvanised steel (forming, cold forming and manufacture of steel structures)

• Chemical composition of coating material (pure zinc or zinc-iron/zinc-aluminium/aluminium-zinc/zinc-magnesium alloys, etc)

• Thickness/weight of protective zinc layer

Hot-dip galvanised sheets according to European and Ukrainian standards

Galvanised steel sheets as per EN 10346 and its Ukrainian equivalent DSTU EN 10346 can be delivered coated with zinc, zinc-iron alloy, zinc-aluminium alloy, aluminium-zinc alloy or aluminium-silicon alloy:

• Zinc coating (Z) is applied by dipping the prepared strip into a bath with molten alloy containing at least 99% zinc

• Zinc-iron coating (ZF) is formed by dipping a strip into a bath of molten zinc (at least 99% zinc) with further annealing to form a zinc-iron coating with an Fe content of 8-12%

• Zinc-aluminium coating (ZA) is applied by dipping steel into a bath of zinc and about 5% aluminium with a minor content of mischmetal (mix of metals)

• Aluminium-zinc coating (AZ) is applied by dipping steel into a bath of molten metal consisting of 55% aluminium and 1.6% silicon (the rest is zinc)

• Aluminium-silicon coating (AS) is formed by dipping steel into a bath of molten metal containing aluminium and 8-11% silicon

The following steels can be used to produce galvanized sheets as per EN 10346 and DSTU EN 10346:

• Low-carbon steel for cold forming: DX51D, DX52D, DX53D, DX54D, DX55D, DX56D, DX57D

• Steel for construction and framing: S220GD-S550GD

• Steel with high yield strength for cold forming: HX160YD, HX180YD, HX180BD, HX220YD, HX300LAD, etc

• Multi-phase steel for cold forming: HDT450F, HCT490X, HDT590X, HCT780X, HCT980X, HCT780T, HDT580X, etc

The coating weight is expressed in grams per square metre and characterises the weight of the coating applied to both surfaces of the strip. The coating type (Z, ZF, ZA, AZ, AS) and nominal weight are indicated in the coating designation. Depending on the type of protective layer, the minimum weight of coating on both surfaces of a galvanized product can be 100-600 g/m2 (average value for three spots).

Galvanised steel as per EN 10346 and DSTU EN 10346 are also classified based on:

• Surface quality:

  • А – surface right after coating application

  • В – surface quality improved by processing in a skin pass mill

  • С – highest surface quality also obtained by processing in a skin pass mill

• Surface treatment:

  • Chemically passivated – С

  • Oiled – О

  • Passivated and oiled – СО

  • Phosphate treated – Р

  • Coated with organic insulation – S

• Surface finish:

  • Regular spangle pattern (normal spangle) N is obtained by allowing the zinc coating to solidify naturally

  • Minimum spangle pattern (minimised spangle) M is obtained by adjusting the molten zinc composition using special measures to impact the solidification process and/or subsequent surface finishing

The geometry and tolerances for hot-dip galvanised sheets shall meet the requirements of EN 10143 and its Ukrainian equivalent DSTU EN 10143.

Hot-dip galvanised sheets according to US standards

The main standard followed for the production of rolled steel with metallic coating is ASTM A653/A653M. It specifies requirements for zinc-coated and zinc-iron alloy coated steel sheets.

Galvanised products can be made of the following steels:

• Commercial steel (CS, types А, В and С)

• Formable steel (FS, types А and В)

• Bake hardenable steel (BHS)

• Deep drawn steel (DDS)

• Extra deep drawn steel (EDDS)

• Structural steel (SS)

• Solution hardened steel (SHS)

• High-strength low-alloy steel (HSLAS, types А and В)

Depending on the selected grade of zinc coating (G01-G360 for British Imperial system, or Z001-Z1100 for international system of units SI), the minimum weight of protective material may vary from 90 tо 1,100 g/m2 on both sides of the product.

The geometry and tolerances for galvanized steel sheets produced according to ASTM A653/A653M shall meet the requirements of ASTM A924/A924M.

Hot-dip galvanised sheets according to CIS standards

The key standard specifications for zinc-coated steel produced in the CIS include GOST 14918 and GOST R 52246.

GOST 14918 is applied to cold-rolled hot-dip galvanised steel sheets produced on continuous galvanising lines and intended for cold forming, colour coating, manufacturing stamped parts, tableware, tare and other metal ware. According to this reference document, steel is classified based on:

• Application: cold stamping, cold forming, colour coating (skin passed), general application

• Drawability: normal drawn, deep drawn, extra deep drawn

• Spangle pattern: with spangle pattern and without spangle pattern

• Zinc thickness inconsistency: normal thickness inconsistency and minimised thickness inconsistency

• Class of coating thickness: enhanced (570-855 g/m2 on both surfaces); 1 (258-570 g/m2); 2 (142.5-258 g/m2)

Galvanised steel produced as per GOST 14918 has a thickness of 0.5-2.5 mm and a width of 710-1,800 mm. Dimensions, acceptable tolerances and other requirements for the product mix shall meet GOST 19904.

GOST R 52246 is followed to produce galvanized sheets with zinc and ironzinc coating from low-carbon steel intended for the manufacture of goods by bending and interlocking joint, as well as formed, stamped and welded metal ware. Galvanized steel is classified based on:

• Application:

  • 01 – manufacture of flat and flat bent goods

  • 02 – houseware, manufacture of goods by bending and interlocking joint

  • 03 – formed extra deep drawn parts and complicated profiles

  • 04 – formed complex drawn goods

  • 05 – formed super complex drawn goods

  • 06 – super deep drawn goods

  • 220, 250, 280, 320, 350 – for profiled goods

• Manufacturing accuracy:

  • Normal accuracy

  • Improved accuracy

  • High accuracy

• Edge condition:

  • Mill edge

  • Trimmed edge

• Weight of zinc coating – 60, 80, 100, 140, 180, 200, 225, 275, 350, 450, 600 classes

• Zinc spangle pattern and surface finish:

  • Normal spangle

  • Normal spangle (skin-passed)

  • Minimum spangle

  • Minimum spangle skin-passed

  • Iron-zinc

  • Iron-zinc skin-passed

• Surface preservation:

  • Passivated

  • Oiled

  • Passivated and oiled

Galvanised steel sheets as per GOST R 52246 have a thickness of 0.3-4.5 mm and a width of 700-1,800 mm. Dimensions, acceptable tolerances and other requirements for the product mix shall meet GOST 19903 or GOST 19904.

Galvanised steel sheets are mainly produced by cutting galvanised steel coils at cross cutting lines or combined cutting lines. Further, two methods are used for applying zinc to coils:

• Hot-dip galvanising by dipping a steel strip into a bath of molten zinc

• Electrolytic galvanising (electroplating) is an electro-chemical process in which a layer of zinc is applied in a bath of acid or alkali electrolytes

Buy galvanised sheets from the original manufacturer

Metinvest offers galvanised sheets with a thickness of 0.4-2.0 mm and a width of up to 1,250 mm for construction and machine building applications. Products are supplied in accordance with the requirements of key international standards (EN 10346, ASTM A653/A653M, GOST 14918, GOST Р 52246, etc). Galvanized sheets can be purchased through the Group’s global sales network of 38 sales offices in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, as well as 16 metal service centres in Ukraine and authorised dealers.