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ZM Ecoprotect® Solar – effective corrosion protection for economical and resilient PV mounting systems

ZM Ecoprotect® Solar – effective corrosion protection for economical and resilient PV mounting systems

Robust arguments for system manufacturers, profilers, and PV plant operators of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems

Reliable PV mounting systems require durable, robust, sustainable materials. This is why professionals rely on ZM Ecoprotect® Solar: Our high-quality zinc-aluminum-magnesium-coated steels for effectively protecting high-performance stud framing from corrosion.

Incidentally, ZM Ecoprotect® Solar is also available in bluemint® Steel – to significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

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ZM Ecoprotect® Solar: The steel for PV substructures

ZM Ecoprotect® Solar: Zinc-magnesium coated steel for effective corrosion protection of high-performance PV mounting systems
ZM Ecoprotect® Solar – for a robust PV mounting system made of high-quality steel with high-performance corrosion protection.

Your solar farm needs to generate green energy both economically and sustainably. To do so, it requires a robust supporting structure made from high-quality steel with effective corrosion protection. With ZM Ecoprotect® Solar, thyssenkrupp Steel now offering high-performance, zinc-aluminum-magnesium-coated steels for PV mounting systems – durable, robust and sustainable.

Durable corrosion protection for mounting structures of solar installations

In order to advance the energy turnaround in Europe in a decisive way, significantly more photovoltaic capacity will have to be installed over the coming years than has been the case to date. Solar systems usually last for 20 to 25 years. Given these long operating times, high-performance steel substructures are required in particular for the solar modules of photovoltaic ground-mounted systems.

With ZM Ecoprotect® Solar, thyssenkrupp Steel is now offering a zinc-aluminum-magnesium-based corrosion protection solution that is significantly more effective than conventional hot dip galvanizing, and can withstand almost anything that the weather can throw at it.

We know what exacting demands our customers have in terms of service life and workmanship in the construction of PV mounting systems, and we offer a corresponding portfolio of grades with high-quality ZM coating – depending on the corrosion stresses with a 25-year guarantee against rust penetration.

Arne Schreiber, Product Management Industry, thyssenkrupp Steel

Proven standard

ZM Ecoprotect® Solar is a further development of the tried-and-tested ZM Ecoprotect® zinc-aluminum-magnesium coating, which has already proven itself in the construction industry for decades.

Your contacts when it comes to high-performance corrosion protection for solar mounting structures: Arne Schreiber, Product Management and Jennifer Schulz, Surface Development.
Your contacts when it comes to high-performance corrosion protection for solar mounting structures: Arne Schreiber, Product Management and Jennifer Schulz, Surface Development.

Resistant to corrosion

ZM Ecoprotect® Solar offers several advantages compared to pure zinc coatings. Thanks to the addition of magnesium, the application thickness can be significantly reduced compared to conventional zinc coatings, while offering equivalent corrosion protection and even higher-quality protection at cut edges and drilled holes.

This is possible because ZM Ecoprotect® Solar forms a particularly resistant and durable protective layer on the steel surface, thus protecting the steel in corrosive atmospheres. As a result, the new coating is ideal for steel fabrications in outdoor applications.

The new ZM coating will appeal to customers with its excellent processing properties. ZM-coated steels are excellently formable and particularly suitable for roll forming. Their surface is harder than that of zinc coatings, which means significantly less abrasion is generated in the die, and this in turn reduces wear on the forming dies.

Jennifer Schulz, Product Development Surfaces, thyssenkrupp Steel

Tried-and-tested quality for steel structures

The excellent properties of the coating are confirmed by the building regulations approval from the German Institute for Construction Technology (DIBt) and tests by the Karlsruhe Technologies Institute (KTI). For this purpose, an alternate climate test – among other procedures – was carried out on the coated steels to demonstrate the good corrosion resistance of the coatings.

Durable, robust and sustainable steels for high-performance steel structures.
Durable, robust and sustainable steels for high-performance steel structures.

Guaranteed service life for steel frames made of profiles

All scenarios for the expansion of photovoltaics point to an enormous demand for steel in Europe. With ZM Ecoprotect® Solar, we are responding to the needs of an attractive and, above all, sustainable market trend in the field of renewable energies. Consequently, we are supporting emission-free power generation using photovoltaics.

The new coating is the consistent economic further development as an alternative to batch galvanizing. The guaranteed service life of up to 25 years also leads to low maintenance expenditure on the PV ground-mounted systems.

With ZM Ecoprotect® Solar, we are clearly offering extra sustainability. It conserves resources through reduced use of zinc, it is 100 percent recyclable, and the entire portfolio is also available as bluemint® Steel – our high-quality flat steel with reduced CO2 intensity and the same excellent material and processing properties.

Axel Pohl, Head of Sales Industry Original Equipment Manufacturer and Steel Service Center, thyssenkrupp Steel

Zinc-aluminum-magnesium-coated steels for high-performance PV stud framing – advantages at a glance:

  • Increased corrosion protection compared to conventional hot dip galvanizing, even with reduced coating weight
  • Improved corrosion protection at cut edges, bend shoulders and drilled holes – combination of cathodic protection effect and stable, more resistant covering layer
  • Excellent weathering resistance, proven in salt spray test and various outdoor weathering tests
  • 25-year warranty against rust penetration depending on the corrosion stresses caused by the atmosphere, water and soil
  • Approved by the DIBt (German Institute for Construction Technology)
  • Economical alternative to batch galvanizing
  • Very good formability, ideally suited for roll forming
  • Harder surface ensures less abrasion in the die

ZM Ecoprotect® Solar – sustainable corrosion protection

  • Husbanding of zinc resources by cutting down the use of zinc
  • 100% recyclable
  • And for a clear CO2 saving also available as bluemint® Steel

ZM Ecoprotect® Solar: Available steel grades, coatings and dimensions for ground-mounted photovoltaic systems

Hot-dip coated structural steel
DIN EN 10346

Dimensions
Steel grade designation
­
­ 		Coatings
in g/m2 		Thickness1
from _ to in mm 		Width1
from _ to in mm
S220GD
ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
S250GD
ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
S280GD
ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
S320GD
ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
S350GD
ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
S390GD ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
S420GD ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 3.00 800 – 1,560
S450GD ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 3.00 800 – 1,560
S550GD ZM310, ZM430 On request On request
1. Not all thickness and width combinations possible. | 2. Coatings ZM620 and ZM800 on request.

Mild steel
DIN EN 10346

Dimensions
Steel grade designation
­
­ 		Coatings
in g/m2 		Thickness1
from _ to in mm 		Width1
from _ to in mm
DX51D ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
DX52D ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
DX53D ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
DX54D ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
DX56D ZM310, ZM430 0.60 – 4.00 800 – 1,560
1. Not all thickness and width combinations possible. | 2. Coatings ZM620 and ZM800 on request.

Micro-alloyed steel
DIN EN 10346

Dimensions
Steel grade designation
­
­ 		Coatings
in g/m2 		Thickness1
from _ to in mm 		Witdh1
from _ to in mm
HX260LAD ZM310, ZM430 0.40 – 6.00 800 – 1,560
HX300LAD ZM310, ZM430 0.40 – 6.00 800 – 1,560
HX340LAD ZM310, ZM430 0.40 – 6.00 800 – 1,560
HX380LAD
ZM310, ZM430 0.40 – 6.00 800 – 1,560
HX420LAD ZM310, ZM430 0.40 – 6.00 800 – 1,560
1. Not all thickness and width combinations possible. | 2. Coatings ZM620 and ZM800 on request.

Contact

thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Strasse 100

47166 Duisburg, Germany

+49 (0)203 52-0

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