Plain carbon steel will still rust quite easily in most environments if not protected. Due to this, there are many ways steel has been modified to prevent corrosion. Two popular solutions are using stainless steel or galvanized steel. While both plates of steel resist rusting and corrosion, there are important differences between them that should be understood.

What is Galvanized Steel?

Galvanized steel is a type of steel that has been coated in a layer of zinc that helps prevent the underlying steel from rusting. This layer is usually quite thin, often measured in thousandths of inches or microns. To create galvanized steel, the zinc layer is typically added well after melting, refining, and shaping the steel plate or sheet. Sometimes it is even done after manufacturing processes have been performed on it such as bending or welding.

What is Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is able to resist corrosion because of the additional alloying elements in its chemical makeup. While plain carbon steel consists of mostly iron and carbon, stainless steel has substantial additions of chromium to help it resist corrosion. The chromium, and sometimes other alloying elements, are added to the stainless steel during the initial melting process, prior to it being formed into any particular shape.

The Difference Between Stainless Steel and Galvanized Steel

Stainless steel usually has better corrosion-resistant properties than galvanized steel. If the stainless steel becomes scratched, it can still maintain corrosion resistance around the affected area. However, if the zinc layer of galvanized steel is damaged, it can leave the underlying carbon steel exposed and vulnerable. And because galvanized steel is often dipped in zinc in large sheets then cut to size, the edges where the cuts are made are left exposed making it possible for rust to occur.

Stainless steel is also generally considered to be more aesthetically pleasing than galvanized steel, as stainless typically has shiny, silver-like color, versus the dull-grey pattern of galvanized steel. However, stainless steel is also often more expensive than galvanized steel.