Differences Between Solid Galvanized Steel and Solid Stainless Steel Shelving
Not all solid steel shelves are created equally. When it comes to galvanized steel vs. stainless steel, each has their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
It’s easy to get the two confused. Though they may look similar, each varies in terms of manufacturing, strength, and cost. In this post, we explain galvanized steel and stainless steel plus highlight significant differences between the two commonly used options in industrial shelving.
Let’s dive in.
What is Galvanized Steel?
Galvanized steel is regular steel that has been coated with zinc to make it resistant to corrosion. Regular steel is made of iron and rusts when wet or exposed to moisture, such as rain and humidity.
Therefore, galvanizing is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron in order to prevent any rusting from taking place. The most common method is hot-dip galvanizing, in which parts are submerged in a bath of molten zinc.
What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel, on the other hand, is made by adding chromium to molten steel. This means while galvanized steel contains regular steel covered by zinc, stainless steel is made up of two separate metals mixed thoroughly together.
Stainless steel is also resistant to tarnishing and rust and commonly used in construction.
Main Differences Between Solid Galvanized Steel Shelves and Solid Stainless Steel Shelves
1. Strength
Though both types make durable and sturdy shelving solutions, galvanized steel tends to be weaker than stainless steel.
Since galvanized steel only contains an outer layer of rust-resistant coating, it will wear over time. But, because stainless steel consists of a protective mixture of chromium to prevent rusting, it’s known to hold up for much longer periods of time than galvanized.
While both are resistant to moisture, stainless holds up exceptionally well in wet environments. Unlike stainless, galvanized steel is prone to weakness when exposed to salt water.
2. Price
Stainless steel is far more expensive than galvanized steel. However, since solid galvanized steel shelves cost less to produce than solid stainless steel units, galvanized is more suitable for those on budget.
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