What is Galvanization?

Hint: Sometime you may have heard that Iron and steel objects corrode very easily when they come in contact with oxygen in air, water or water vapors. A rust is formed on the surface of iron or steel objects. So, galvanization is a method to prevent this corrosion.

Complete answer:
When iron and steel are exposed to oxygen in air and water or water vapors, a rust is formed on the surface of iron and steel objects. The process of formation of rust in presence of oxygen and water or water vapors is called rusting.
So, various methods are adapted to prevent corrosion. Galvanization is one of the methods to prevent rusting of iron.
Galvanization is the method of applying a protective layer on the surface of metal in order to prevent it from corrosion. That protective layer is of zinc metal. It is a very common process of preventing corrosion. The galvanization process can be by dipping the metal to be protected in a hot, molten zinc. Due to this process, a protective layer of zinc coated on the surface of metal which protects it from the atmospheric reaction with oxygen and water or water vapors, hence avoiding corrosion and weathering. The Galvanization process can be done by a method called electroplating.
The galvanization process consists of the three basic steps i.e. surface preparation followed by fuxing and then it undergoes galvanizing. Material is loaded and then immersed in the molten zinc at degrees until the temperature is the same as zinc.
There are certain disadvantages of galvanization process are as follows:-
It prevents the rusting of iron for a limited time. After a certain time of usage, the zinc layer is eaten up in the process and the corrosion process begins.
It is not very effective where corrosion is very high. So, instead of zinc coating, cadmium coating can be used.

Note:
Galvanization helps to extend the life of the iron and steel objects by forming a protective layer between the metal and the air. It prevents the accumulation of iron oxide on the surface of the material. It offers corrosion resistance to environmentally exposed parts.