ZAM Coated Steel (Zinc-Aluminum-Magnesium coated steel, ZM) is a high-performance alloy coated steel, which is the upgraded version of Aluminum-Zinc Alloy Steel and Galvanized Coated Steel, and is widely used in the fields of building and structure, automotive industry, household appliances, agriculture, machinery, energy, industry, and so on.
ZAM coating
ZAM coating Commonly used composition systems are Zn-6%Al-3%Mg, Zn-1.5%~8%Al-Mg.
- Zinc (Zn): >85%, sacrificial anode protection
- Aluminum (Al): 6-15%, formation of Al₂O₃ oxide film
- Magnesium (Mg): 1-4%, self-repairing ability
- Silicon (Si): trace, inhibit the growth of Fe-Al alloy layer
ZAM Coated Steel Finished Products
Wanzhi Group provides ZAM coated steel raw material and finished product processing services, and can provide steel OEM ODM services according to project requirements or application environment.
ZAM coil: The main form, up to 1250mm in width, cut to length on request for easy transportation and large scale continuous processing (uncoiling, straightening, slitting).
ZAM sheet: ZAM coil is flat and cross-cut, available in standard or customized sizes.
Prepainted ZAM steel: ZAM Coated steel serves as an excellent anti-corrosion substrate and can be coated with various organic coatings.
ZAM corrugated sheet/profile: ZM steel sheets or coils are processed into corrugated sheets, purlins, braces, and other structural members of various cross-sectional shapes by cold-forming units.
ZAM WELDED PIPE: ZM coated steel strip can be used to produce welded pipe fittings.
Properties of ZAM Coated Steel
The mechanical properties of ZAM coated steel are determined by the substrate, and the thickness of the coating material determines the corrosion resistance of the steel. Therefore, when selecting a ZAM steel sheet or coil, it is necessary to determine the required mechanical properties of the substrate and the grade of the coating material, respectively.
Mechanical Properties of the Substrate
| Substrate Type | Typical Grade Examples | Yield Strength (Rp0.2) MPa | Tensile Strength (Rm) MPa | Elongation (A80mm) % |
| Low Carbon Steel (Soft Steel) | DC01 / DC03 / SPCC | 140 – 280 | 270 – 400 | 28 – 42 |
| High Strength IF Steel | H180YD / H220YD | 180 – 220 | 300 – 350 | 34 – 40 |
| High Strength Low Alloy Steel (HSLA) | S355MC / QStE460TM | 355 – 460 | 430 – 560 | 18 – 24 |
| Bake Hardenable Steel (BH) | H220BD / H260BD | 220 – 260 | 340 – 390 | 34 – 38 |
| Dual Phase Steel (DP) | HCT600X / DP600 | 340 – 410 | 600 – 670 | 17 – 24 |
| Transformation Induced Plasticity Steel (TRIP) | RAK40/60H / CP800 | 450 – 600 | 780 – 980 | 18 – 26 |
| Martensitic Steel (MS) | HDT1000M / MS1200 | 950 – 1200 | 1200 – 1500 | 3 – 8 |
| Hot Rolled Substrate | S355J2 / Q355B | ≥355 | 470 – 630 | ≥22 (longitudinal) |
ZAM Coating Material Grade
- ZM 60 : Minimum total coating weight 60 g/m² on both sides.
- ZM 80 : Minimum total coating weight 80 g/m² on both sides.
- ZM 100: Minimum total coating weight 100 g/m² on both sides.
- ZM 120: Minimum total coating weight on both sides 120 g/m².
- ZM 150: Minimum total coating weight on both sides 150 g/m².
- ZM 180: Min. total coating weight 180 g/m² on both sides.
- ZM 210: Minimum total coating weight on both sides 210 g/m².
- ZM 250/275: Minimum total coating weight on both sides 250/275 g/m².
ZAM Coated Steel International Standards
- EN 10346,
- ASTM A1046/A1046M,
- JIS G 3323, GB/T 14978
ZAM Coated Steel Advantages
ZAM Coated Steel offers exceptional corrosion resistance, self-repairing capability, excellent cut and machined edge protection, excellent scratch resistance, good coating uniformity and adhesion, excellent chemical resistance and weatherability.
- Durability: ZAM coating dramatically extends the life of steel in harsh environments, reducing maintenance and replacement costs.
- Worry-free processing: ZM forms an effective protective layer on cuts, folds and scratches during processing by virtue of its strong self-repairing ability.
- Lightweight: Under the premise of achieving the same or even better protection life, thinner coatings or thinner substrates can be used (especially beneficial for high-tensile steel), thus realizing weight reduction and cost reduction.
- Easy to install and transport: The relatively high hardness of ZAM coating reduces the loss of steel during transportation, installation and use.
- Cost-effective: Initial costs are higher than for GI/GL steel, but its long life, reduced maintenance, lower processing requirements and material usage can reduce long-term costs.
ZAM Coated Steel Applications
ZAM Coated Steel is one of the most popular metal materials for projects in highly corrosive environments and environmentally friendly projects. Zinc aluminum-magnesium coated steel coil and sheet are widely used as raw materials in coastal construction, chemical equipment, power pylons, bridge projects, automotive motors, photovoltaic mounts, industrial refrigeration equipment, green buildings, sustainable infrastructure projects and other fields. buildings, sustainable infrastructure projects, etc.
- Roofs, facades, purlins, trusses, garage doors, ventilation ducts for residential and commercial buildings (especially in high humidity, coastal and industrial areas).
- Automobile chassis components (subframes, control arms, brackets), interior structural parts, brake panels, truck panels, etc.
- Refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, water heater back plate, shell, internal structural parts.
- Tractor shells, harvester parts, grain bins, agricultural equipment.
- Solar photovoltaic racking system.
- Warehousing and logistics shelves (especially cold storage), bins.
- Electrical cabinets, enclosures.
- Ventilation ducts, outdoor unit housings.
Comparison of ZAM Coated Steel with Other Coatings
Steel coated with a metallic or alloy coating on a cold rolled or hot rolled steel substrate is known as coated steel. The most popular metal coated steels are galvanized coated steel, zinc-aluminum coated steel, and magnesium zinc-aluminum coated steel, which are also hot-selling products of Wanzhi Group.
| Comparison | Pure Zinc Coating (GI) | 55% Aluminum-Zinc Coating (GL) | Zinc-Aluminum-Magnesium Coating (ZM) |
| Main Components | >99% Zn | 55% Al, 43.4% Zn, 1.6% Si | Zn (>85%), Al (6-15%), Mg (1-4%) |
| Corrosion Resistance | Benchmark | Better than GI | Far superior to GI, significantly better than GL |
| Cut/Scratch Protection | Poor, cuts prone to red rust | Medium, better than GI, but limited protection | Excellent, strong self-healing capability |
| Scratch Resistance | Average | Better | Excellent |
| Appearance | Obvious zinc flower | Unique shiny aluminum-zinc flower/no zinc flower | Usually fine, uniform zinc flower or no zinc flower, smoother |
| Cost | Lowest | Medium (usually 10-20% higher than GI) | Higher (usually 10-30% higher than GL) |
| Main Applications | General corrosion resistance with low requirements | Building roofs, exterior walls, home appliances, medium corrosion environments | Harsh corrosion, long service life, critical processing parts |
ZAM Coated Steel VS Stainless Steels
ZAM Coated Steel and Stainless Steel are both suitable for outdoor applications where high corrosion resistance is required. ZAM steel is an ideal alternative to stainless steel for building structures, automotive, photovoltaic mounts, and other applications that are not subject to extreme chemical corrosive environments.
| Comparison | ZAM Coated Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Cost | 1/3 to 1/2 of austenitic stainless steel (e.g., 304) | High |
| Special Environment Adaptability | Strong resistance to salt, ammonia, acids, alkalis, etc. | Weaker resistance to salt and alkalis |
| Workability | Strong | Weak |
| Strength | Average | Good |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good | Excellent |
ZAM Coated Steel VS Prepainted Steel
The corrosion protection of Prepainted Steel relies on substrates and coatings, commonly used substrates are GI steel and GL steel. ZAM Coated Steel provides a more submerged, long lasting and reliable foundation for corrosion protection than prepainted galvanized/galvalume steel.
| Comparison | ZAM Coated Steel | pre-painted Steel |
| Corrosion Resistance | Strong | Depends on substrate + paint material (corrosion occurs after paint film damage) |
| Workability | Welding, stamping, bending | Processing affected by paint film thickness |
| Cost-effectiveness | Higher initial cost | Lower initial cost than ZAM |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good | Excellent |
| Appearance | Metallic luster | Rich colors and surfaces |
| Durability | Far exceeds regular pre-painted steel | Outdoors, it will age (chalk, fade, crack) |
ZAM Coated Steel Factory
Wanzhi Steel Factory has 1 ZAM coated steel production line with an average monthly production capacity of 10,000 tons, which can be customized according to the application requirements in terms of width, length, thickness, coating thickness, surface treatment, surface structure, etc. We have been supplying ZAM coated steel to France, Thailand, Turkey, Singapore, Kazakhstan, South Africa, UAE, and so on. So far, we have supplied ZAM coated steel to dozens of customers in France, Thailand, Turkey, Singapore, Kazakhstan, South Africa, UAE, etc. for energy and industrial applications.
Production Line
Our coated steel production line (including ZAM coating) is located in Boxing County, Binzhou City, Shandong Province, China, with GI GL ZAM PPGI PPGL production line, sample room, quality control center and so on. We support sample testing and third party inspection such as SGS BV, etc. Likewise, if you need sample testing, welcome to contact us, we will also provide you with free samples.
Customer Feedback
So far, we have received feedback from customers all over the world who have purchased steel from Wanzhi Group, see what customers with different application needs have to say about Wanzhi’s steel solutions.
The core value of ZAM coated steel is the long life and low maintenance costs associated with its high level of protection. Leave us a message with your application requirements and we can provide you with the most cost-effective steel solution at the most competitive price.