Zinga was originally invented in Ghent University, Belgium, in the 1970′s and has since been used in a wide variety of projects throughout the world. Click here for the typical applications of Zinga or here for a selection of testimonials.
Zinga is a unique form of corrosion protection because it provides both Active and Passive protection in a form that’s as easy to apply as a paint…
BUT… Zinga is not a paint.
ZINGA BANGLADESH
Zinga is an active zinc performance coating which works in conjunction with the metal beneath whereas paints are only passive barriers. Regardless of how thick paints are applied, they remain as barriers. Once they are breached corrosion sets in immediately. Despite this significant difference Zinga is still often mistaken for a paint simply because it’s liquid and comes in a tin. But there are other more subtle differences. For example it does not “skin over” in the tin because Zinga has an unlimited pot-life and it doesn’t go “tacky” like a paint.
Cathodic protection, or active protection, arises from the zinc (the anode) sacrificing itself in favour of the base metal (the cathode) with the resulting flow of electrons preventing corrosion’s chemical reaction. In this way the protection of the metal is guaranteed, even when the zinclayer is slightly damaged. Other well established methods of cathodic protection include hot-dip galvanising (HDG) and zinc thermal spraying both of which exhibit a constant sacrificial rate of the zinc layer.
Within Zinga though this sacrificial rate reduces dramatically after the zinc layer has oxidised and the natural porosity have been filled with zinc salts. Additionally the zinc particles within the Zinga layer are protected by the organic binder without adversely affecting the electrical conductivity. This enables Zinga to create nearly the same galvanic potential between the zinc and the steel as hot dip galvanising but with a lower rate of zinc loss because, put simply, the binder acts as a “corrosion inhibitor” to the zinc. Please see the Zinc Loss Prediction Chart further down this page for a estimate of expected zinc coating service life.
“The zinc in Zinga becomes the sacrificial anode in relation to the steel but it corrodes at a much slower rate than would otherwise be expected”
Passive protection, such as paints and cladding, creates a “barrier” between the steel substrate and the elements. Once this barrier is compromised then the moisture and atmospheric salts will be able to start corroding the steel beneath the damaged area. This corrosion will then begin to creep extensively beneath the coating.
With Zinga, the organic binder and the zinc oxide layer that forms on the surface create an impervious barrier by blocking the zinc’s natural porosity with oxide particles. Unlike other passive coatings, once breached the zinc oxide layer simply renews itself by re-oxidising. This layer of oxides is the reason behind the matt appearance of Zinga as opposed to the shiny hot-dipped finish.