Posted on 28 Jan 2014
ArcelorMittal announces the launch of Optigal?, a new zinc-aluminium-magnesium alloy developed for better performing and more sustainable organic coated steels. Optigal? is perfectly suited for all roofing and cladding panels and profiles, as well as being the ideal substrate for pre-painted steel.
It is created by hot dip galvanising a steel strip in a bath of zinc, aluminium and Magnesium. Following tests of different combinations of Zn-Al-Mg, ArcelorMittal found Optigal? to be the best as it combines all the properties required for organic coated steels for the construction market: corrosion resistance, flexibility, lightness and sustainability. Optigal? is certified by several construction industry bodies such as CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment) and DIBT (Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik).
Corrosion resistance
Organic coated steel made with Optigal? benefits from improved corrosion resistance: a highly compact and stable protective layer is formed at an early stage, leading to a much slower corrosion rate on cut edges and scratches.
Formability
Granite? and Estetic? made with Optigal? are much more flexible compared to non-optimised zinc-magnesium coatings available on the market. They demonstrate the formability level required by the most popular forming techniques such as roll forming and bending.
Lightness
Thanks to lower density and reduced metallic coating weight, Optigal? allows an overall weight reduction of up to 4%, while the mechanical properties remain unchanged due to the steel substrate. The protection level remains the same, while keeping high durability and extending the life time of the steel.
Eco-friendly
Five million tonnes of zinc is extracted globally each year for use in steel galvanisation, with zinc resources becoming ever scarcer over time. Optigal? ensures the preservation of natural resources by using less zinc than pure zinc coatings. Optigal? is also free of any ‘Substances of Very High Concern’*. It complies with the European REACH** Regulations to produce materials free of hexavalent chromium compounds and other black-listed heavy metals.
For more information on Optigal?, please contact the nearest ArcelorMittal agency at http://www.arcelormittal.com/fce/agencies or email fce.technical.assistance@arcelormittal.com.
* Substances of very high concern included in the annex XIV of REACH regulation.
** Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals
