Dictionary.net

The coating of steel with a zinc film. Provides long term corrosion protection and abrasion resistance, up to generally 10 to 30 years. The tried and true hot-metal bath and the newer electrode position are the two common galvanizing processes. A hot metal bath is about a 250 years old process, yet still very popular. The steel item is dunked into molten zinc, and gets a 50 to 150 micron thick film on it. Electrode position is an electro-chemical process that leaves a 5 to 30 micron thick film of zinc on the steel form.