What Are The Surface Treatment Methods of Mild Steel Tube?

Mild steel tube is a carbon steel pipe with low carbon content. Mild steel tube is widely used in many fields due to its good strength and toughness. However, its surface is susceptible to corrosion and wear, which affects its performance and service life. Therefore, it is particularly important to surface treat mild steel tube. So what are the surface treatment methods of mild steel tube?

Galvanizing treatment

1. Hot dip galvanizing

Hot dip galvanizing is to immerse the mild steel tube in high temperature zinc liquid to form a layer of zinc-iron alloy layer and pure zinc layer on its surface. The thickness of the hot dip galvanizing layer is usually between 60-100μm and has good corrosion resistance. In outdoor environments, such as building structures, bridges and power towers, hot dip galvanized steel pipes can effectively resist the influence of rain, humid air and other corrosive substances. Its strong corrosion resistance can greatly extend the service life of the steel pipe, generally up to 15-20 years.

The hot dip galvanizing process is relatively simple and low cost. During the hot-dip galvanizing process, the zinc layer on the surface of the steel pipe will react with the iron matrix to form a strong alloy layer, which improves the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of the steel pipe. In addition, the hot-dip galvanized layer has good adhesion and stability and is not easy to fall off.

2. Electrogalvanizing

Electrogalvanizing is the process of depositing zinc on the surface of mild steel tubes using the principle of electrolysis. The thickness of the electrogalvanized layer is relatively thin, generally between 5-15μm. Compared with hot-dip galvanizing, the surface of the electrogalvanized layer is smooth, uniform, and has good appearance quality. This method is suitable for occasions with high requirements for appearance, such as interior decoration, furniture, and electronic equipment.

The advantage of electrogalvanizing is that it accurately controls the thickness and quality of the zinc layer and can meet different application requirements. At the same time, the electrogalvanizing process is environmentally friendly and does not produce a large amount of pollutants. However, the corrosion resistance of the electrogalvanized layer is relatively weak, and additional protective measures may be required in some harsh environments.

Painting treatment

1. Ordinary paint coating

Ordinary paint coating is a common surface treatment method. Commonly used paints include alkyd paint, epoxy paint, etc. Before painting, the surface of the steel pipe needs to be pretreated, such as rust removal, oil removal, etc. The thickness of the paint is generally between 20-50μm, and the specific thickness depends on the use environment and requirements.

Ordinary paint coating has good decorative properties and certain anti-corrosion properties. It can provide different colors and glosses for steel pipes to meet various decorative needs. In addition, paint can also protect the surface of steel pipes from corrosion and wear to a certain extent. In some building structures, industrial equipment and furniture, ordinary paint coating is widely used for surface treatment of steel pipes.

2. Powder coating coating

Powder coating coating is to adsorb powder coating on the surface of steel pipes by electrostatic spraying and other methods, and then form a coating after high temperature curing. The thickness of powder coating is generally between 60-100μm, with good corrosion resistance, wear resistance and decorative properties.

The advantage of powder coating coating is that its coating thickness is uniform and the quality is stable. It can form a solid protective film on the surface of steel pipes, effectively preventing corrosion and wear. In addition, the colors of powder coating are diverse and can be selected according to different needs. In some occasions where high surface quality is required, such as automotive parts, home appliances and industrial equipment, powder coating has been widely used.

Other surface treatment methods

In addition to the above-mentioned galvanizing and painting treatments, there are some other surface treatment methods, such as passivation treatment, phosphating treatment, etc. These methods can further improve the surface performance and corrosion resistance of mild steel tubes.

Passivation treatment is to form a passivation film on the surface of the steel pipe, so that the surface of the steel pipe has good corrosion resistance. Phosphating treatment is to form a phosphating film on the surface of the steel pipe through chemical reaction to improve the corrosion resistance and adhesion of the steel pipe. These methods play an important role in some specific fields and applications.

Conclusion

Surface treatment of mild steel tubes is an important means to improve their performance and service life. Different surface treatment methods have their own characteristics and scope of application. Galvanizing, painting and other surface treatment methods can effectively improve the surface performance of steel pipes and meet different application requirements. In practical applications, the appropriate surface treatment method should be selected according to the specific situation to ensure the quality and performance of the steel pipe.