Zn-Al-Mg Steel vs Aluzinc Steel
Vegega is one of the few manufacturers who build modular raised garden beds and garden box out of Zn-Al-Mg steel. Zn-Al-Mg steel is a Zinc-Aluminum-Magnesium alloy coated steel sheet product that is more corrosion resistant than Aluzinc steel and is an excellent material for garden beds.
What is Zn-Al-Mg Steel Used in Vegega metal raised garden beds?
Zn-Al-Mg steel refers to Zinc, Aluminum and Magnesium. The alloy coating of Zn-Al-Mg steel is a dense ternary eutectic structure formed by solidified zinc, aluminum and magnesium at high temperature, which can effectively prevent rust and corrosion. Vegega’s Zn-Al-Mg steel material contains 140g/m² plating, with 3% aluminum and 2% magnesium, and 95% zinc. Zn-Al-Mg steel is highly corrosive, whose corrosion protection is 4 to 20 times greater than Aluzinc steel coatings of the same coating weights. As well, the advantages of notch corrosion resistance are particularly obvious. Zn-Al-Mg steel is suitable for high temperature, high humidity and high corrosion resistance, perfect material for raised garden beds. Research showed Zn-Al-Mg steel raised beds can last up to 20 years.
Comparing to Aluzinc coatings, Zn-Al-Mg steel has the following significant advantages:
- Improve deep drawing performance
- Lower coefficient of contact friction
- Higher surface hardness reduces cleaning time
- Excellent corrosion resistance
Vegega's Zn-Al-Mg Steel Product Coatings
The corrosion process of the Zn-Al-Mg coating:
5 Advantages of Vegega Zn-Al-Mg Steel Metal Raised Garden Beds
1. Super Corrosion Resistance
Al, Mg and S and other alloying elements are added to the coating of the Zn-Al-Mg steel sheet, which greatly improves the corrosion inhibition effect of the coating. Compared with ordinary galvanized products, our raised garden beds achieve better corrosion resistance with less coating adhesion. In the case of the same coating, the corrosion resistance of Zn-Al-Mg steel sheet is 5-10 times greater than ordinary galvanized steel sheet. And the biggest difference between Vegega and other brands is that we also add magnesium to our beds. The magnesium component in the coating is beneficial to promote the formation of a very stable and dense protective film, and to generate and maintain a film-like covering layer on the surface of the coating, thereby exerting excellent corrosion resistance. In the following three experiments, Vegega's Zn-Al-Mg steel coated products showed superior corrosion resistance.
Under neutral salt spray conditions, Zn-Al-Mg steel coated products exhibit better planar corrosion resistance.
- Test conditions: Neutral salt spray test (GB/T 10125)
- Specimen: CR3-Z50/50 CR3-ZM35/35
Zn-Al-Mg steel coated products show no red rust after 4 weeks of corrosion
- Test conditions: Cyclic corrosion test (VDA 621-415)
- Specimen: Zn-Al-Mg steel coating weight 140g/m2
Under neutral salt spray conditions, the notch corrosion resistance of Zn-Al-Mg coating products is obviously better than that of pure GI coating products.
- Test conditions: Neutral salt spray test (GB/T10125)
- Specimen: CR3-Z50/50 CR3- ZM35/35
2. Fantastic Self-healing
The coating components around the cut surface of the Zn-Al-Mg steel sheet will continue to dissolve, forming a dense protective film mainly composed of zinc hydroxide, alkaline zinc chloride and magnesium hydroxide. This protective film has low conductivity and has a significant inhibitory effect on the corrosion of the cut surface. It can be seen from the comparison of the Zn-Al-Mg steel and Aluzinc slices below that due to the flow of magnesium elements, Zn-Al-Mg steel products form a dense protective film on the incision part over time, increasing the corrosion resistance. Whereas Aluzinc slices only produce coverings that are not densely packed and porous.
3. Good Resistance to High Temperature And Humidity
Vegega's galvanized aluminum-magnesium steel has product properties that are resistant to high temperature and humidity. The following two experiments can draw conclusions.
High temperature resistance
The sample is left at room temperature for at least 24 hours. After heating the sample to 70 ℃ and keeping it for 24 hours, measure the color difference change value, and it is required that the surface of the sample plate ΔE≤1.5.
Sample 1: After 24h, ΔE=0.31
Heat and humidity resistance
The sample is placed at room temperature for at least 24 hours. The samples were placed in the HS-150 high and low temperature humidity and heat test chamber and the temperature and humidity were controlled at 40°C, 98%RH. It is required that after 1000h, the sample surface ΔE≤1.5, and there is no foaming and powdering.
4. Green And Eco-friendly
The surface treatment of Zn-Al-Mg steel plate does not contain heavy metal ions such as trivalent and hexavalent chromium, and conforms to the EU RoHS standard. It is currently an internationally recognized environmental protection product. With the increasing emphasis on environmental protection in China and the policy support of actively promoting green, low-carbon and sustainable development, Zn-Al-Mg steel products are favored by more industries.
5. Wear-resistant And Easy to Process
The plating of the Zn-Al-Mg steel plate is more dense and smooth, whose surface hardness is twice greater than that of the Aluzinc steel plate, which makes it difficult to damage during processing. It has excellent processing properties such as drawing, stamping, bending, welding, and excellent scratch resistance and wear resistance. After the stamping experiment, we came to the conclusion that the deep drawing performance of the Zn-Al-Mg steel is better than that of the Aluzinc steel. You can find in the following two comparison charts that the Aluzinc steel is more dezincified than the Zn-Al-Mg steel.
Conclusion
In general, Vegega's Zn-Al-Mg Steel Garden Beds are superior than other brands of Aluzinc Steel Garden Beds whichway you look at. Durable, superior corrosion resistance, beautiful, naturally resistant to moisture and temperature, green, wear-resistant and even termites. A high quality metal raised bed helps you grow your plants and vegetables in a very organized manner without any chaos. They will save your time and energy in your garden as well as increse your yields and your harvest.
