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» Why is lead added to the galvanizing bath?

Why is lead added to the galvanizing bath?

February 26, 2011
Authored by Dr. Tom Langill

Lead is not purposely added to galvanizing baths, rather it is an impurity in zinc. Di erent types of zinc have di erent levels
of lead. The specified lead maximums for the various types of zinc can be found in ASTM B6.

Lead does have the beneficial e ect of decreasing the surface tension of zinc, which allows it to flow o the steel easier as it
is being removed from the kettle. This creates thinner galvanized coatings that have less runs and drips. Bismuth is
sometimes added to galvanizing baths to achieve the same e ect as lead has when types of zinc are used that have very low
levels of lead.

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