FOCUS ON ZINC—9: Depositing zinc by metal spraying

The technique of atomizing molten particles of metal by a stream of compressed air has been established for many years. It is the principle used in all metal spraying where the atomized particles are directed at a target so as to produce a coating. Almost all metals and alloys and indeed many non‐metallic materials, can be deposited in this way but by far the most important is zinc. Minor uses of sprayed zinc include the production of moulds, or the provision of metallic conductors on non‐metallic surfaces, but the amount used for these purposes is insignificant when compared with the use of sprayed zinc coatings to prevent corrosion of steel. Several hundred tons of zinc have been deposited on very large structures such as the Forth or Severn road bridges.