What Does Galfan Mean?
Galfan is a type of steel that is coated with a zinc-aluminum layer instead of a traditional galvanized steel zinc layer because the zinc-aluminum layer has superior corrosion resistance. This superior corrosion resistance allows thinner layers of protective coatings to be applied.
Corrosionpedia Explains Galfan
Galfan, when compared to traditional galvanized steel, has better corrosion resistance and may extend the time before the coating needs to be reapplied.
A thin layer of zinc-aluminum improves the weldability of the material because the reduced protective layer thickness allows for greater weld penetration and less dilution of zinc into the weld pool.
Galfan steel also has improved formability over traditional hot dipped galvanized steel, increasing the coating ductility. Galfan steel has a coating that is typically more ductile because the thinner coatings of zinc-aluminum can be used with the same amount of corrosion resistance as the pure zinc coatings. The zinc-aluminum coating is more ductile than the zinc coating of hot dipped galvanized steel from a metallurgical standpoint as well.
Galfan is used in a wide variety of applications where the cost is justified. It is commonly used for horticultural and agricultural equipment. Many automobiles contain galfan components. Electrical boxes are frequently made of galfan.