The Difference Between Galvanised and Stainless-steel cable

The difference between galvanised and stainless steel cable

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The Difference Between Galvanised and Stainless-steel cable

16 December, 2021

Galvanised steel and stainless steel wire rope are the two most popular materials for steel rope. From fine wire cables to robust crane ropes, each type delivers a variety of advantages. To better understand the strength, durability and safety wire ropes provide, we've detailed the main differences between galvanised and stainless steel below.

 

Stainless Steel

Ideal for a wide range of applications, stainless steel wire ropes combines superb strength with a long lifespan — under the most extreme conditions. Stainless steel also provides high corrosion resistance as it's treated with chromium, meaning even in the offshore sector, where harmful, salty conditions are present. The inclusion of chromium also plays a vital role in making stainless steel a great choice with fire resistance and fire prevention in mind. Overall, stainless steel provides a high level of resistance to general corrosion and can offer safe operation in both wet and dry conditions.

 

Galvanised Steel Cable

Galvanised steel has been dipped in a zinc coating, delivering good corrosion-resistant qualities. That said, galvanised steel rope is weaker and more cost-effective because it does not include chromium. For example, in harsh, wet and salty marine conditions, the galvanised cable will rust, whilst it's trickier to weld galvanised steel.

 

Galvanised steel cable is often found in industrial applications, however, once the protective zinc coating has worn away, rust will come into play and give the user a good indication of the quality, condition and age of the wire rope. Also known as 'hot dipped' wire ropes, galvanised steel is most common in working environments where fire is present or high levels of humidity or moisture, that may lead to rust.

 

What's the best type for your needs?

Stainless steel wire rope is undoubtedly the stronger of the two, however, you may not necessarily need a rope that is impermeable to saltwater and more corrosion resistant. Galvanised steel may be cheaper, but you still get a high level of corrosion resistance thanks to the zinc coating. It's important to remember that no single wire rope can do it all. Every application is unique, so you need to pay careful attention to the following

 

  • ·         Strength
  • ·         Corrosion resistance
  • ·         Fatigue resistance
  • ·         Crushing resistance
  • ·         Resistance to metal loss & deformation
  • ·         Capacities/Loads
  • ·         Bending stiffness

 

If you'd like to learn more or wish to discuss your needs with our team, please call us on 01384 78004. We produce various rope assemblies on a daily basis, however, some of the most common types include trailer ropes, rigging, lifting slings, zip wires and bespoke assemblies. We can supply multiples of these to our regular customers, however, we are also happy to make individual ropes for specialist tasks.