Raw, Primed & Galvanised Steel Finishes

Raw Steel Finishes offer the basic, unprocessed form of steel that serves as a fundamental material in the construction industry. This versatile product is derived directly from iron ore and is highly valued for its strength and durability.

Steel is well known as an oxidising material, meaning quite simply that it can and will, eventually, rust. Rust is caused when iron and oxygen react together in the presence of water or moist air. Rusting is highly detrimental to the strength of steel, so for long-term structures, it is essential to find a solution to prevent rust from forming.

Priming is a technique that involves applying zinc phosphate-rich paint to steel to create a corrosion-resistant coat.

Primed finishes and coatings can prevent the steel from rusting by interfering with the formation of anodes, typically seen as rust. When exposed to water, the paint’s compound breaks down into zinc ions (Zn2+) and phosphate ions (PO43-). The phosphate ions make the steel passive by reacting with it, while the zinc ions further inhibit corrosion. For effective protection, the paint should be applied at a thickness of 125 microns, which usually requires two layers. A roller can be used to apply the paint directly onto the steel. Priming efficiently prevents rust, especially for indoor applications, but is less effective in harsh outdoor conditions.

Galvanised steel finishes use zinc coating to create an extremely durable protective layer. Galvanised steel finishing is the most expensive of our offerings, but also our most popular, as it prepares the steel for use in external environments or damp conditions, such as outdoor structures exposed to weather or within walls where moisture is prevalent.

The zinc carbonate compound safeguards the steel in two ways:

1. Barrier Protection: The zinc coating forms a physical barrier, preventing the base metal from coming into direct contact with atmospheric elements.
2. Sacrificial Protection: Zinc possesses a higher electronegativity compared to steel, thus corroding preferentially and protecting the underlying steel.

Galvanised steel finishes are critical for enhancing the durability and corrosion resistance of fabricated steel.