Zinc is a critical material for corrosion protection. It can be applied through a galvanizing process or sprayed, either thermally or cold in a coating matrix. Regardless of application method, zinc extends the service life of steel structures. Though most steel used in the US is of high recycled content and part of a circular economy, it still has a significant embodied carbon and often contributes to a large percentage of the carbon footprint of a structure. Extending the life cycle of the structure is one of the most impactful ways of reducing enviornmental impact. This presentation will explore how coating performance relates to carbon footprint. The results of performance testing, including corrosion resistance and UV stability, of various coating systems will be shared. A discussion of how performance testing can be used to predict service life will be outlined. Finally, a correlation between performance testing results, service life, and carbon footprint of the various coating systems will be presented.
