How To Oxidize Galvanized Sheet Metal

Direct sunlight helps speed up the rusting process.

How to oxidize galvanized sheet metal.

I learned this the hard way by trying to rust some galvanized buckets i had on hand and read up about it here. If you have an item made from galvanized metal and you want it to oxidize you must first remove the zinc coating. Galvanization is a process used to preserve steel rust free for many years. Hot dipped galvanized steel and electroplated galvanized steel are made using different methods and their zinc galvanized coatings corrode completely differently.

Galvanized metal is widely used in the building outdoor structures. The chromium in the alloy oxidizes quickly to form a protective layer of chromium oxide on the metal surface which prevents oxygen from reaching the underlying steel. To make a piece of galvanized metal look old and rusty and chippy and have a wonderful patina takes years of outdoor wear. Galvanized metal is a form of steel that has been thinly coated in zinc oxide.

The surface of the galvanized coatings mostly contains zinc. Galvanized steel has been used for almost 2 000 years because of its unrivaled ability to last a very long time and resist rust. Galvanized metal is steel coated with a thin layer of zinc oxide. Move the metal object you want to rust out to a yard or open garage on a hot day.

This zinc oxide coating serves as a critical barrier that helps to protect the underlying steel from corrosion oxidation and other damage from the elements. In the galvanizing process a piece of steel is coated with liquid zinc. The outstanding anti corrosion performance of steel is credited to zinc s durability. Galvanized metal is usually zink or iron with a coating of steal sealed over it to prevent it from rusting.

Through a variety of experiments i ve come to learn a pretty consistent process for removing this galvanization and making the metal rust. I believe it has to have iron in it in order to rust and if it s galvanized stainless steel or some other type of metal that doesn t corrode then this process won t work. I love to incorporate tie plates and nail plates that are used in construction but in most cases this type of steel has a galvanized finish to prevent them from rusting. White rust can cause substantial damage to the galvanized coating and is detrimental to its appearance.

The zinc oxide forms a barrier that protects the steel from corrosion. But when this thin layer wears away the steel is subject to rust. Galvanized metal consists of steel or iron that is coated with a thin layer of zinc which protects the underlying metal from rusting through oxidation. Prepare your work area.

Galvanized steel or metal is a common building material.