W E L D I N G

& H O T- D I P
GALVANIZING
6881 South Holly Circle, Suite 108
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Hotline 800-468-7732
Fax 720-554-0909
www.galvanizeit.org
aga@galvanizeit.org
 INTRODUCTION

As it becomes more common to specify hot-dip

galvanizing (the metallurgical combination of

zinc and steel) as the corrosion protection

system for structural steel fabrications, it is

essential to understand that considerations for

the galvanizing of welded black steel or for

welding on galvanized steel must be integrated

into the overall structural fabrication design.

Welding before and after galvanizing is com-

mon; the requirements are relatively simple for

a designer to implement, resulting in superior

corrosion protection.

2002 American Galvanizers Association. The material provided herein has been developed to provide accurate and authoritative information about
after-fabrication hot-dip galvanized steel. This material provides general information only and is not intended as a substitute for competent profes-
sional examination and verification as to suitability and applicability. The information provided herein is not intended as a representation or warranty
on the part of the AGA. Anyone making use of this information assumes all liability arising from such use.
HOT-DIP GALVANIZING FOR WELDING BEFORE HOT-DIP
CORROSION PREVENTION GALVANIZING
The galvanizing process has existed for more than To achieve a high-quality hot-dip galvanized coating
250 years and has been a mainstay of North on welded areas of fabrications, two important
American industry since the 1890s. Galvanizing is issues must be considered before galvanizing:
used throughout various markets to provide steel chemical makeup of the weld metal and cleanliness
with unmatched protection from the ravages of of the weld area.
corrosion. A wide range of steel products from
reinforcing steel to playground equipment to pro- Weld Metal Chemistry
fessional sports stadiums to the artistic expression
of todays sculptors benefit from galvanizings When there is a difference between the structural
superior corrosion prevention properties. steels chemistry and the weld filler materials
chemistry, the galvanized coating on the weld can be
Galvanizings primary component is zinc. This vital thicker than the coating on the structural piece. The
substance is silvery blue-gray in color and makes up major difference between the weld metal and the
an estimated 0.004% of the earths crust, rank- structural steel is the amount of silicon in the weld
ing 25th in order of abundance. It is essential for rod. Excessive silicon in the steel or weld filler
the growth and development of almost all life. material can accelerate the growth of the hot-dip
Between 1.4 and 2.3 grams of zinc are found in the galvanized coating. Because some weld electrode
average adult, and the World Health Organization metal contains nearly 1% silicon, the difference
has recommended a daily intake of 15 milligrams. between the coating thickness on the weld metal
Numerous consumer products, including cold and structural steel can be significant. Excessive sili-
remedies, sunscreens, diaper creams, and nutri- con in the weld material to be galvanized causes an
tional supplements, contain beneficial amounts of accelerated formation of the iron and zinc inter-
zinc, primarily in the form of zinc oxide.

Even though galvanized steel is blue-gray, it also Figure 1

can be green. The zinc and galvanizing industries
work to promote sustainable development by
enhancing zincs contribution to society and ensur-
ing that its production and use are in harmony with
the natural environment and the needs of society,
now and in the future.

Zinc, as it is used in galvanizing, is a healthy metal,

completely recyclable. The energy used to smelt
zinc is inversely related to the amount of zinc recy-
cled. Galvanizing delivers incredible value in terms
of protecting our infrastructure. Less steel is con-
sumed and fewer raw materials are needed
because galvanizing makes steel structures, bridges,
roads, and buildings last longer. Over time, galva-
nizing helps maintain steel fabrications structural
integrity: galvanized structures are safer.

Additionally, because galvanized steel requires no

metallic layers that make up the hot-dip galvanized
maintenance for decades, its use in public con-
coating, greatly increasing coating weight (see Figure
struction is an efficient use of our taxes. Selecting
1). When the fabricated structure is immersed in the
galvanized steel for private projects makes a signifi-
zinc bath long enough to achieve a coating that
cant contribution to a companys profitability.
meets the minimum thickness of the galvanizing
3
 standards (such as American Society of Testing and Design Considerations
Materials [ASTM] A 123/A 123M, Standard
Specification for Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings On assemblies with contacting surfaces having a gap
on Iron and Steel Products), the coating on the of less than 3/32 (2.5 mm), a full seal-weld must
high-silicon weld metal can be two- to five-times be used on all edges, depending on the size of the
the thickness of the surrounding coating. This thick overlapped area. Zincs viscosity prevents it from
coating on the weld detracts from the appearance entering any space smaller than 3/32 (2.5 mm),
of the fabricated structure and increases the resulting in ungalvanized surfaces (see Figure 5).
possibility of the zinc coatings becoming damaged Ungalvanized surfaces in tight spaces will corrode
in the weld area. and bleed iron oxide onto the surrounding galvanized
surfaces, making for an unsightly appearance.
For typical welding processes, such as shielded metal
arc welding (SMAW), submerged arc welding (SAW) Figure 3
and flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), there are weld
rod materials that will not cause excessively thick
coatings. Figure 2 indicates the material and
chemistry for several welding rods that yield good
coating appearance and thickness.

Figure 2
Welding Process Weld Rod Material Silicon Content
__________________________________________________
SMAW Jetweld 2 (E6027) 0.25%
Fleetwood 35 LS (E6011) 0.10%
Fleetwood 7 (E6012) 0.30%
_________________________________________________
SAW L60-860 (F6A2-EL12) 0.22%
L61-80 (F7A2-EM12K) 0.35% Cleaning solutions have lower viscosities, allowing
__________________________________________________ them to enter these small gaps. Cleaning solution
FCAW NR-203NiC+ (E71T8-K2) 0.04% salts can be retained in these tight areas. Humidity
NR-311 (E70T-7) 0.07% encountered weeks or months later may wet these

Figure 4
Weld Cleanliness
When welded structures are hot-dip galvanized, the
weld areas cleanliness significantly affects the
quality and appearance of the galvanized coating
around the weld (see Figure 3). If a coated electrode
is used during welding, all welding flux must be
removed prior to galvanizing or the zinc coating will
not adhere to the weld area (see Figure 4). Because
weld flux and slag are insoluble in the chemical
cleaning solutions used in the galvanizing process,
they must be removed by other methods. Slag and
flux must be removed by wire brush, flame-cleaning,
chipping with a pick, grinding or abrasive blast-clean-
ing.

4
 Figure 5 galvanized steel is usually necessary if the final struc-
ture is too large to be dipped in a galvanizing bath or
for structures that must be welded in the field.
Preparation of Weld Area
AWS D-19.0, Welding Zinc Coated Steel, calls for
welds to be made on steel that is free of zinc in the
area to be welded. Thus, for galvanized structural
components of a fabrication, the zinc coating should
be removed at least one to four inches (2.5-10 cm)
from either side of the intended weld zone and on
both sides of the workpiece. Grinding back the zinc
coating is the preferred and most common method;
burning the zinc away or pushing back the molten
zinc from the weld area also are effective.

Weld Metal Chemistry

Because the galvanizing has already taken place,

selection of weld material is less critical. Most of the
materials used for touchup of the weld area will
salts and cause iron-oxide weeping. A second design adhere and cover the weld and any damaged area
consideration is to use equal or nearly equal thick- around the weld (see Touch-up of Weld Area).
ness of assembly pieces, with symmetrical welds.
Welding Methods
During galvanizing, the assembly is heated to the
Four methods of manual/semi-automatic welding are
molten zinc bath temperature more than 815 F
detailed below. More flexible than resistance or laser
(435 C) and then cools to ambient temperature.
welding, which usually are in-line processes on
When welded pieces of dissimilar thickness are
galvanized sheet, all four manual/semi-automatic
galvanized, one of the pieces will often have a high
methods benefit from the removal of zinc from the
stress induced in the fabrication process and/or by
areas to be welded, but it is not an absolute
the galvanizing temperature changes. If the stress is
requirement.
high enough, distortion of the assembly or, in
extreme cases, a fracture of the weld or of the
stressed piece in the assembly can occur.Galvanizing
welded fabrications is a common method of protect-
Figure 6 - Diagrammatic Illustration of CO2 Welding
ing a structure from corrosion. A high-quality hot-dip
galvanized coating, even over welded areas, is
achieved by properly selecting a weld metal,
thoroughly cleaning the weld area, and using good
design practices.

WELDING AFTER HOT-DIP

GALVANIZING
All commonly practiced welding and cutting
techniques can be used on galvanized steel (see
American Welding Societys [AWS] specification
D-19.0, Welding Zinc Coated Steel). Welding on
 1. Gas Metal Arc Particularly suited to welding of Figure 7 - Diagrammatic Illustration of
thinner materials, gas metal arc welding, (GMAW) Shielded Metal-Arc Welding
also known as CO2, is a convenient and versatile
semi-automatic welding process (see Figure 6 on the
previous page). The presence of the zinc coating has
no effect on weld mechanical properties, although it
may produce some appearance changes due to weld
spatter. Arc stability is excellent and generally unaf-
fected by the galvanized coating. There may be a
reduction in welding speed because the galvanized
coating must be burned off ahead of the weld. The
use of a 100% CO2 weld shield gas is acceptable for
galvanized steel. There are no advantages to using
more expensive shielding gas combinations.
Penetration of the weld in zinc-coated steels is less
than for uncoated steels. Therefore, slightly wider
gaps must be provided for butt-welds.
The major difference between welding zinc-coated
The major difference between welding zinc-coated steel and welding uncoated steel using the SMAW
steel and welding uncoated steel using the GMAW process is that the root opening must be increased
process is the need for higher heat input to remove to give full weld penetration. The amount of spatter
the zinc from the weld pool and lower welding formed when SMAW is used is slightly higher than
speeds to burn off as much of the zinc coating at the for welding on uncoated steel.
weld area as possible.
Typical SMAW conditions for the root pass in butt-
Typical welding conditions for CO2 welding of welds on batch galvanized steel are available in AWS
butt-joints on batch galvanized steel are available in D19.0, Tables 6.2 through 6.5.
AWS D19.0, Tables 5.5 through 5.12.
SMAW is recommended for galvanized steels of 1/2
2. Shielded Metal Arc This most common of the (33 mm) thickness or greater galvanized steel pieces.
manual processes uses flux-covered electrodes. The In general, SMAW can use the same procedures for
conditions necessary for SMAW are similar to those galvanized steel as for uncoated steel, although the
used on uncoated steel. However, the speed of the following should be noted:
welding may be slower because the angle of the
electrode is reduced to about 30 and a whipping The electrode should be applied slower than
motion of the electrode back and forth is required to normal, with a whipping action that moves the
move the molten zinc pool away from the weld (see electrode forward along the seam in the direction
Figure 7). of the weld and then back into the molten
zinc pool.
Weaving and multiple weld beads should be
avoided, as should excessive heat injection into
the joint. Excess heat may damage the adjacent
zinc coating.
A short arc length is recommended for all
positions to give better control of the weld pool
and to prevent either intermittent excessive
penetration or undercutting.

6
 Slightly wider gaps are required in butt-joints in
order to have complete penetration.
TOUCH-UP OF WELD AREA
Any welding process on galvanized surfaces destroys
Grinding off edges prior to welding give the best
the zinc coating on and around the weld area.
quality weld joint. It also reduces fuming from the
Restoration of the area should be performed in
galvanized coating. Welding procedures will then
accordance with ASTM A 780, Standard Practice for
be the same as for uncoated steel.
Repair of Damaged and Uncoated Areas of Hot-Dip
Galvanized Coatings, which specifies the use of
Electrodes similar to those used for arc welding
paints containing zinc dust, zinc-based solders
uncoated steel may be used. The major difference
or sprayed zinc. All touchup and repair methods
when SMAW on galvanized steel compared to
are capable of building a protective layer to the
uncoated steel is the need for higher heat input to
thickness required by ASTM A 780.
remove the zinc from the weld pool and lower weld-
ing speed to burn off as much of the zinc from the
The restored area of the zinc coating will have no
leading edge of the pool. This may result in greater
affect on the overall lifetime of the part. Repair
fluidity of the slag and increased splatter.
materials and their coating thickness have been
chosen to give comparable lifetimes to the coating
3. Oxyacetylene Preparation for oxyacetylene
minimums required by ASTM A 123/A 123M,
fusion welding is similar to that for welding uncoated
Standard Specification for Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized)
steel. Because low travel speed is necessary to bring
Coatings on Iron and Steel Products. There may be
the joint edges to the fusion temperature, the extra
some visual differences between the original hot-dip
heat causes the zinc coating to be affected over a
galvanized coating and the restored area, but, over
much greater area than other welding processes.
time, the natural weathering of the galvanized
Best results are obtained when the filler rod is
coating and the repair material yield a similar
moved back and forth, producing a ripple weld.
appearance.
4. Friction Friction welding is generally used for
making butt-welds in which one component of QUALITY OF WELDED JOINTS
circular cross-section is rotated relative to and in
It is recommended in AWS D19.0 to remove all zinc
contact with another component to produce heat
from the weld area prior to welding because burning
at the interface. Once sufficient heat is generated,
through the zinc slows the welding process,
the relative rotation of the parts is stopped and
generates zinc fumes (see Safety & Health, on the
pressure is increased to complete the weld. Friction
next page) and creates an unsightly burn area around
welding is often used for attaching shear connectors
the weld.
to steel beams for the anchoring of concrete in
concrete/steel structures. Flat-ended studs, whether
However, as studies performed by the International
uncoated or galvanized, cannot be welded to
Lead Zinc Research Organization (ILZRO) have
galvanized plate because the zinc coatings alloy
shown, the tensile, bend and impact properties of
layers appear to act as a low friction-bearing surface
welds on galvanized steel are equivalent to the
and insufficient heat is developed for welding. This
properties of welds on uncoated steel.
may be circumvented by using pointed studs with a
point having a 120 angle. Conditions for welding
Fracture Toughness
pointed studs are available in AWS D19.0.
Tests establish that the fracture toughness properties
of welds are unaffected by the presence of
galvanized coatings.

7
Fatigue Strength Intergranular cracking of fillet welds containing
porosity, sometimes referred to as zinc penetrator
The fatigue strength of arc welds on galvanized steel cracking, does not significantly affect the strength of
is equivalent to welds on uncoated steel made by non-critical joints. For more critical stress applica-
CO2 welding as shown in Figure 8. tions, it is advisable to carry out procedural tests on
materials and samples.
Porosity
SAFETY & HEALTH
The extent of weld porosity is a function of heat
input and the solidification rate of the weld metal. All welding processes produce fumes and gases to a
Not always possible to eliminate, porosity affects the greater or lesser extent. Manufacturers and welders
fatigue strength and cracking tendencies of welds. must identify the hazards associated with welding
coated and uncoated steel and workers must be
trained to maintain work practices within
Figure 8 - SN Curves Showing Fatigue Tests on
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Cruciform Joints
(OSHA) regulations. In general, welding on steel with
the zinc coating ground back away from the weld
area will produce lead and zinc oxide emissions
below OSHA permissible exposure limits (PELs) for
zinc and lead. When welding directly on galvanized
steel is unavoidable, PELs may be exceeded and
every precaution, including high-velocity circulating
fans with filters, air respirators and fume-extraction
systems suggested by AWS, should be employed.

Fumes from welding galvanized steel can contain

zinc, iron and lead. Fume composition typically
depends on the composition of materials used, as
well as the heat applied by the particular welding
process. In any event, good ventilation minimizes
the amount of exposure to fumes. Prior to welding
on any metal, consult ANSI/ASC Z-49.1, Safety In
Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes, which
When welds are subject to fatigue loading, welds on contains information on the protection of personnel
galvanized steel should be made oversized to reduce and the general area, ventilation and fire prevention.
the influence of any weld metal porosity. When eval-
uating the effect of porosity on the fatigue strength
of a fillet weld, it is necessary to consider both the
SUMMARY
function of the joint and the weld size. When a fillet With proper preparation of the weld area, selection
weld on galvanized steel is large enough relative of a suitable welding material and process, and
toplate thickness to fail by fatigue from the toe of careful touch-up of the weld area, welding on
the weld in the same manner as in uncoated steel, galvanized steel provides an excellent product for
the presence of porosity in the weld does not reduce use in myriad applications, from bridges, towers, and
the fatigue strength of the joint. Where the dimen- grating to handrail, trusses and guardrail.
sions of the weld are just large enough to cause
fatigue failure from the toe in a sound weld, a weld
containing porosity at the root may fail preferentially
through the throat of the weld.
W E L D I N G

& H O T- D I P
GALVANIZING
6881 South Holly Circle, Suite 108
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Hotline 800-468-7732
Fax 720-554-0909
www.galvanizeit.org
aga@galvanizeit.org