EVALUATION OF ELECTROGALVANIZED DEPOSITS FROM ZINC WASTES

A current problem facing the metals industry is the disposition of many residues and wastes generated during processing, which are often toxic and pose economic burdens with little return on investment. This study focuses on the feasibility of recycling these waste materials directly into products for electrogalvanizing, particularly for automotive applications. Various electrolytes made from waste materials were tested under different processing conditions, considering variables such as acid concentration, steel substrate pre-conditioning, and electrolytic cell type. For comparative analysis, deposits produced from solutions prepared with French process zinc oxide were also examined. The coating morphology was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy techniques. The findings indicate that preliminary testing supports the potential for reusing waste materials in electrogalvanizing processes, possibly leading to sustainable practices in the metals industry. Further research and optimization can enhance the effectiveness of integrating these waste residues, thereby mitigating both disposal issues and resource constraints in zinc processing.