Are being manufactured galvanized pipes made from the same grades of steel and using the same technologies as conventional ones, therefore they have the same parameters in terms of mechanical strength to impact loads and deforming forces, the range of permissible operating temperatures and pressures. The only difference is the presence of a thin layer of zinc on the surface, but it significantly affects the scope of application of each of the two similar types of ferrous metal products. This can be demonstrated with several clear examples:
- The resulting iron-zinc galvanic cell, in which moist atmospheric air acts as an electrolyte that weakly conducts electric current, creates a negligible EMF, which, however, is quite sufficient to redirect the action of oxidizing agents from one electrode to another. In this case, zinc is subject to active corrosion, and iron remains unchanged until it is completely consumed, which occurs after many decades. This time is quite enough to recoup the costs of purchasing more expensive material. This is especially noticeable with small wall thicknesses - if in thin sheet metal made of ordinary, unprotected steel, holes from falling layers of rust appear within a few years after installation, then looking at the elements of the gutters of old houses that have not changed since construction, it is possible to notice only the darkening of the initially shiny surface.
- During manual electric arc welding, zinc burns, scattering white oxide flakes that are harmful to inhalation, and the seam itself and the adjacent areas lose protection from corrosion. For this reason, there is no point in constructing main pipelines from more expensive galvanized pipes, and using them, if necessary, only if threaded or flanged connections are possible for small-diameter distributions, stationary irrigation systems for fields for growing vegetables and supplying drinking water from nearby water towers to livestock farms, water pipelines in agriculture.
- The walls of chimneys are subject to increased temperature and chemical loads and, when using conventional steel, quickly collapse, and stainless steel is too expensive, so galvanizing in most cases will be the best option.
The main competitor for applications is conventional steel pipe, but galvanization also has others. To understand the difference, it’s worth telling a little about them.
Comparison of galvanized pipes with analogs from other materials
To get the maximum benefit from comparing individual samples with each other, it is wise not to list the areas of application of each separately, but to consider only those where they compete with each other. The main evaluation criteria will be:
- price;
- reliability;
- operational resource.
Also, information about the reasons for the dominance of some over others in different periods of the inexorably current time will not be superfluous.
Stainless steel pipe
For the construction of chimneys with increased responsibility, as well as when a customer who wants to emphasize his prestige has extra money, it is used instead of galvanized stainless pipe. It is much more durable and has a very beautiful appearance, however, it is also significantly more expensive. For developers of complex stoves, the first factor is more important than the last, and for designers of fireplaces in luxury homes, the second.
Aluminum pipe
Even though aluminum pipe noticeably more expensive than galvanized, but with the same wall thickness it is almost three times lighter. For non-stationary mobile systems for supplying and distributing liquids, this feature plays a key role. Galvanized equipment for irrigating, spraying and fertilizing fields that is moved on the ground and mounted on agricultural machinery, which was widely used several decades ago, has almost completely been replaced by similar functional ones, but made of aluminum or light polymers. Under its weight, the wheels are less loaded in the mud, fuel consumption is reduced, the soil is less compacted and does not create barriers to the free movement of nutrient soil solutions and roots of grown crops. Accordingly, storekeepers of rural repair shops often have to free up space in the warehouse previously occupied by galvanized pipes for a stock of aluminum ones.
Taking into account the above-listed features of various materials and practical problems, you can either accurately find the optimal combination of solution efficiency and capital investment, or at least determine the correct direction of its search. The wide range of varieties of ferrous and non-ferrous metal products offered by domestic suppliers only contributes to free choice on the road to success!