Finishing Of cable Tray
Finishing of Cable Tray
(1) Galvanized Coatings
- The most widely used coating for cable tray is galvanizing. It is cost-effective, protects against a wide variety of environmental chemicals, and is self-healing if an area becomes unprotected through cuts or scratches.
- Steel is coated with zinc through electrolysis by dipping steel into a bath of zinc salts. A combination of carbonates, hydroxides and zinc oxides forms a protective film to protect the zinc itself. Resistance to corrosion is directly related to the thickness of the coating and the harshness of the environment.
(2) Pre-Galvanized:
- Pre-galvanized, also known as mill-galvanized or hot dip mill-galvanized, is produced in a rolling mill by passing steel coils through molten zinc. These coils are then slit to size and fabricated.
- Areas not normally coated during fabrication, such as cuts and welds, are protected by neighbouring zinc, which works as a sacrificial anode. During welding, a small area directly affected by heat is also left bare, but the same self-healing process occurs.
- G90 requires a coating of .90 ounces of zinc per square foot of steel, or .32 ounces per square foot on each side of the metal sheet. In accordance with A653/A653M pre-galvanized steel is not generally recommended for outdoor use or in industrial environments.
(3) Hot-Dip Galvanized:
- steel cable tray has been manufactured and assembled, the entire tray is immersed in a bath of molten zinc, resulting in a coating of all surfaces, as well as all edges, holes and welds.
- Coating thickness is determined by the length of time each part is immersed in the bath and the speed of removal. Hot dip galvanizing after fabrication creates a much thicker coating than the pre-galvanized process, a minimum of 3.0 ounces per square foot of steel or 1.50 ounces per square foot on each side of the sheet.
- The process is recommended for cable tray used in most outdoor environments and many harsh industrial environment applications.