Zinc-Rich Paint

Zinc painting, commonly referred to by the misnomer cold galvanizing, is the

application by brush or spray of zinc dust mixed with organic or inorganic binders.
Prior to application, the steel must be cleaned by sand blasting to near white
metal (SSPC-SP 10), commercial blast cleaning (SSPC-SP 6) or white metal (SSPC-SP
5). The zinc dust must be mixed with a polymeric-containing vehicle and constantly
agitated during application to produce a homogenous mixture and proper adhesion.

Zinc-rich paints contain 65-95% metallic zinc in dry film, with 92-95% being
common. The paints can be brushed or sprayed on to the steel. When spray applying,
feed lines should be kept as short as possible to prevent settling of zinc dust and
uneven film coats. Zinc painting can be applied in either the shop or the field.

Zinc-rich paint can be applied to steel of any size and shape, though application
is difficult on more complex fabrications. Zinc-rich paints are also widely used
as primers to high-performance two and three coat systems and for repair of batch
hot-dip galvanized coatings. In mild environments, inorganic zinc paint may be
used independently for corrosion protection, but should be top coated in more
severe environments to extend service life. Limitation to zinc-rich paint include
life-cycle cost, difficulty in applying, lack of coating uniformity (particularly
at corners and edges) and the requirement for a clean steel surface.