No, it is a zinc coating which is a form of liquid galvanizing.

Zinga is an active coating, not just a barrier like a paint. Also Zinga does not behave like a paint e.g. it does not ‘skin over’ in the tin, it does not clog-up spray-gun nozzles, it does not form loose ‘runs’ easily, it does not go ‘blotchy’ in damp conditions, it does not go onto surfaces and remain wet like paint does and it does not go on ‘tacky’ like paint. Zinga also has an unlimited pot life and an unlimited shelf life. Once the lid is put back on the tin it can be stored for use at any point in the future i.e. no waste! One of the best ways of demonstrating that Zinga is not a paint is by using a paintbrush covered in old dry Zinga. Because of Zinga’s unique characteristic that it reliquidises when it is overcoated (see How Zinga Works) all that is required to “save” the brush is to stand it in a pot of liquid Zinga. The hard Zinga on the paintbrush reliquidises once in contact with the liquid Zinga and the brush is returned to its original condition. Try doing that with a paint!

Hot-dip galvanizing, although, in a marine environment Zinga consistently out-lasts HDG. There is also no risk of distortion on thin materials or gassing in sealed tubular sections, which normally have to be drilled out before being hot-dipped. Zinganised steelwork has no risk of hydrogen-induced cracking to any welds. It can also be favourably compared with Hot Zinc Spraying. Click here for a competitors comparison sheet. It should also be noted that Zinga is often mistaken for a different form of the popular “touch-up” coating, Galvafroid. Click here for a comparison with this product.

The high concentration of active zinc in Zinga creates a potential difference between the coating and the steel of about -1000mV. Once the steelwork becomes wet, the zinc ions go into dissolution and the current begins to flow from the zinc to the steel, depleting the zinc layer and protecting the steel beneath by preventing the corrosion reaction taking place. This is known as galvanic protection. For further info.

Zinga has a 3-5mm ‘throw’, which means that uncoated metal up to 5mm away from a Zinganized surface will be protected. It will form a layer of surface rust, but there will be no pitting beneath the rust. On small areas like scratches and chips, the surface will often go a light brown-grey colour but underneath no corrosion will take place.

It is because every square millimeter that has been coated has a charge flowing continually between the zinc and the steel, so there is no chance for any corrosion reaction to begin underneath a Zinga layer. The high potential difference between the two metals ensures that there is always a strong flow of electrons.