A kettle is the single most critical component in any hot-dip galvanizing plant.
Function and Material
The kettle is essentially a massive, rectangular steel tank that contains the several hundred tons of molten zinc required for the galvanizing process. Its primary function is to maintain the zinc at a constant, precise operating temperature, typically between 440∘C and 460∘C.
Due to the extreme, continuous heat and the corrosive nature of the molten zinc bath, the kettle must be constructed from specialized, low-silicon, low-carbon steel plates. This specific metallurgy is necessary to minimize the chemical reaction between the steel kettle and the molten zinc, which prolongs the kettle's service life and reduces the formation of dross (zinc-iron alloy sediment). The integrity of the kettle is paramount, as a failure would result in a highly hazardous and extremely costly operational shutdown.