Galvanised Wire

The galvanising wire is performed in the same manner as that for other galvanised products, and the wire is subsequently coiled for sale and shipment. The wire may be oxidised for the same reasons as other galvanised products, but there is an additional hazard for coils of wire inasmuch as the coils may become distorted or otherwise damaged physically, resulting in entanglement which will prevent the product from being uncoiled in the way intended.
Depending on the size of the coil it is quite common and desirable for small coils to be compacted into ‘jumbo’ coils. The coils may be wrapped in bituminised hessian or plastic and it is quite common for them to be wax coated if shipped bare.
Electrolytic action occurs wherever two electrically connected dissimilar metals are exposed to a conducting solution, an electrolyte. This is the mechanism of the protection of galvanized iron and steel products against corrosion. If the zinc coating is perforated and the damaged region wetted with water, the zinc edges of the damaged region will dissolve preferentially into the water. The rate of attacked will be faster if the water contains dissolved salts which raise its electrical conductivity, as in the case of seawater. Eventually, the zinc coating recedes far enough for corrosion attack to start on the exposed steel substrate. Substrate attack will begin earlier, the larger the area of zinc coating missing in the first place.
Sea water salts may be found present associated with corrosion, although there may be no obvious evidence that the wire has been in contact with salt water or subjected to salt water spray. This may arise when the product has been exposed briefly to salt spray and dried before corrosion has initiated. Salt deposits absorb moisture, so that a dried but unwashed surface can initiate corrosion later, as the salt deposits picks up water following a change in the humidity of its environment.