W artykule przedstawiono podstawowe informacje dotyczące ochrony antykorozyjnej wyrobów stalowych w postaci powłoki cynkowej nałożonej w procesie jednostkowego lub ciągłego cynkowania zanurzeniowego. Zwrócono uwagę, że ochrona przed korozją jest równoznaczna z ochroną środowiska naturalnego.
In the paper, basic information on hot-dip galvanizing zinc coating (batch and continuous process) as an anticorrosive protection of steel products is presented. It highlights that anticorrosive protection is equal to environmental protection at the same time. The hot-dip galvanized welded rectangular structural tube demonstrating incorrect coating structure along the outside weld was examined. It was determined that the outside coating has elevations of different size caused by irregular, excessive growth of ]-phase only on the weld. Besides, in the weld area, steel renewed crystallization conditions result in larger grains growth than in the initial material. This crystallization is accompanied by renewed alloying agents microsegregation including silicon and phosphorus. The investigated zinc coating structure in this area is well-known and is characteristic for reactive steels exhibiting e.g. the Sandelin effect. In the paper, measures allowing to eliminate the coating defects with unchanged welded rectangular structural tubing manufacturing technology have been presented.