No Zinc Plating Patents
Zinc-plating, also commonly known as galvanization, has been used for decades to protect iron, steel and other metals from corrosion. However, zinc-plating still requires special equipment and chemicals, and can be expensive depending on the scale and complexity of the job. Moreover, zinc-plating can involve the use of hazardous chemicals and can have significant environmental concerns if not done properly. Therefore, the development of an alternate method for protecting metals from corrosion without the use of zinc-plating can help make the process simpler, less expensive and more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, no patents involving the replacement of zinc-plating with other protective coatings or treatments have been filed or granted.
A variety of coatings, paints and other treatments exist which offer some protection from corrosion of metal, but none of these have been patented. The simplest of these alternatives are paints and other coatings which are applied to the surface of the metal. These may last for up to a year or two depending on the environment in which the metal is exposed, but may need to be reapplied to maintain protection. More complex treatments such as galvanization, electroplating and hot dip galvanizing may have longer-lasting protective properties but do not replace the need for zinc-plating in some cases.
In addition, a variety of other methods have been proposed but not patented for providing protection from corrosion without the need for zinc-plating. These include chromate conversion coatings, phosphate coatings, aluminum anodizing and polymer coatings. In some cases, these processes may be cheaper and more environmentally friendly than zinc-plating. However, as of yet, there are no patents involving these processes or their application to metal objects to provide superior protection from corrosion.
Another potentially cost-effective alternative to zinc-plating was proposed several years ago by researchers at MIT. This process, known as the thicker coating model, involves applying successive layers of metal to the object being protected. Each layer offers more corrosion resistance than the last, and the process is relatively inexpensive to implement. Unfortunately, no patent has been filed or granted involving this process, and as such, it is not in widespread use.
In summary, while zinc-plating is an effective and widely used method for protecting metal from corrosion, no patents involving the substitution of other processes for zinc-plating have been filed or granted. A variety of coatings, paints and other treatments exist which provide some protection from corrosion, but none of these have been suited for a patentable process for replacing the need for zinc-plating. In addition, several potentially cost-effective alternatives to zinc-plating have been proposed but no patents have been granted.
