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Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which metal is used to galvanize iron and steel?

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A labeled diagram of the periodic table entry for zinc, showing its atomic number 30, symbol Zn, atomic weight 65.38, electron configuration, name, hexagonal crystal structure, solid state at room temperature, and classification as a transition metal.
zinc

The metal used to galvanize iron and steel is zinc.12

Galvanizing is a process that protects iron and steel from corrosion and rusting by applying a coating of zinc. This protection functions in two primary ways:13

  • Barrier Protection: The zinc coating acts as an impermeable layer that shields the underlying metal from exposure to the atmosphere.32
  • Sacrificial Protection: Because zinc is more electronegative than iron, it acts as a sacrificial anode. If the coating is scratched or damaged, the zinc will corrode preferentially, sparing the iron or steel from oxidation as long as the two metals remain in contact.132

Zinc is typically applied to iron and steel through hot-dip galvanizing—where the metal is submerged in a bath of molten zinc—or through electrogalvanizing, which uses electrolytic deposition to create a controlled coating thickness.12