The Benefits of Using Galvanised Wire

Cut and Looped Galvanised Wire - 
Image Courtesy of D R Baling Wire

Galvanised wire is an essential commodity in the industrial and agricultural industries and is used in a number of sectors. Due to its strength and durability and the ability to produce mass quantities of it for relatively low costs, it is a product that has become popular across the world and is used in any number of sectors, essentially in everything from construction to waste management and recycling.

So what is galvanised wire and why should you use it for your business or even DIY projects?  
  


Galvanised wire is steel, iron or aluminium wire that has been coated in zinc. The zinc then works as a sacrificial anode, a protective barrier that protects the underlying metal from corrosive forces.

This can be done in a number of ways, including by electroplating, a process which uses an electric current to adhere the zinc to the wire. However, the most popular form of galvanising wire is by hot-dipping it. As the name suggests, this involves immersing the wire in molten zinc, to effectively cover every part of the wire. There are a number of benefits to using this method over electroplating, but the main advantage is that this process creates a thick, dull layer over the steel, as opposed to the relatively thin coating from electroplating, which will also create a bright and reflective surface.

Although other materials can be used, such as paint or enamel, zinc is by far the most effective as, even when it is scratched or eroded in places, it then acts as a sacrificial anode and still protects the steel underneath, even in the places that have been left exposed. This is down to the fact that zinc has a greater electronegativity than the base metal. The same cannot be said of the other materials.

It also has the added benefits of being relatively cost efficient (often cheaper to use than the other materials), easy to apply and much longer lasting: it can last for up to 20-25 years without requiring any maintenance and a life span of over 50 years is not uncommon. This is especially important when used in the construction industry. Materials such as paint are occasionally applied to the top of the zinc coating, for an added protective layer that improves the finish of the project for a more aesthetic feel, however, this is not necessary nor is it common practice in many of the sectors in which galvanised wire is relied upon. (Find out more about zinc here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc.)

Galvanising the wire will also render it much stronger and durable than the base material would usually be, which makes it an important commodity within the manufacturing industry, which requires these attributes in the materials used. While both the industrial and agriculture sectors use galvanised wire extensively, whether it’s to reinforce a fence or to create strong, steel ropes, it is particularly practical in the waste management and recycling sectors. Here, it is used as a baling wire, to compress a large amount of material into uniform bundles, which are then easy and safe to handle, store and transport. The ability to produce mass quantities of the wire for a relatively low cost, without compromising on the integrity and quality of the product, make it an essential product in industries such as these.

The wire can then be sold in hard or soft forms, depending on the client’s requirements, coming in both formers, coils or cut and looped form, which is used when the wire needs to be tied manually.

Image Courtesy of the Sydney Opera House

Popular in countries across the world, galvanised wire was even used to construct the Sydney Opera House!











So, with its long lifespan that requires minimal maintenance, strength and low cost, it’s no wonder that galvanised wire is such an essential commodity within certain industries, sectors and businesses. Even outside of the industry, you might want to consider it for your next DIY project!

D R Baling Wire Manufacturers produce the best galvanised wire products for the UK market; to find out more about our galvanised wire or talk to one of our representatives, please visit our website: www.drbalingwire.co.uk/galvanised-wire