Hot dip galvanizing is the process of applying a zinc coating to fabricated iron or steel material by immersing the material in a bath consisting primarily of molten zinc.

Galvanizing forms a metallurgical bond between the coating and the underlying material, creating a barrier that is actually an extension of the metal itself.

Galvanizing requires little, if any, maintenance in comparison to the maintenance demands of paint systems. Zinc's corrosion rate is only a small fraction of that of steel.

Zinc applied to steel can add 40 years to the life of a component or facility. No other coating can match the barrier and cathodic protection that zinc provides.

However, in overall life-cycle analysis, galvanized steel proves to be much more cost effective in promoting structural durability with maximum rust and corrosion protection.