Thermal spraying of zinc and zinc alloys is a well-established process which is used for long-time corrosion protection of steel structures in maritime surrounding conditions and for offshore structures since decades.
The paper summarizes the actual arguments to use long-time cathodic corrosion protection with thermally sprayed zinc and zinc based alloys in different types of surrounding conditions based on detailed laboratory tests, results of long time field tests as well as the monitoring of metalized steel structures in different countries.
The presentation represents best technical and economic performance and a lifetime more than 30 years for thermal spraying with zinc-aluminium 15 for buildings in marine conditions.
In addition it reports about modern process technology, which allows the application of thermal spraying with zinc in factory and at site for new steel structures and for repair work with high quality and near tolerances.
Key words: Cathodic Corrosion Protection, thermal spraying, Arc-Spraying, zinc, zinc-aluminium alloys, ZnAl15