Material guide
Gluing Galvanised steel
Steel with a zinc coating, used for outdoor brackets, ducting, gates and fencing.
Also called galv, galvanized steel, zinc plated steel.
How Galvanised steel behaves when you bond it
The adhesive bonds to zinc, not steel, and weathered zinc carries a chalky white corrosion layer that must be removed. Fresh galvanising is often slightly oily from the process.
Galvanised steel is steel protected by a zinc coating. The adhesive bonds to zinc or its conversion coating, not to steel, and fresh oil, white corrosion products or weak zinc layers can limit durability.
Material properties
- Surface energy
- Medium
- Porosity
- Non-porous
- Rigidity
- Rigid
- Maximum service temperature
- 150C
- Normally needs abrading
- No
- Normally needs a primer
- No
- Requires surface treatment
- (3M states that degreasing or organic-coating removal may be required and that some galvanised steel needs controlled chemical preparation; indiscriminate abrasion is often inadvisable.) Manufacturer verified
Surface preparation
Degrease and remove loose white corrosion or organic coating without unnecessarily grinding through the zinc. The 3M bulletin notes that abrasion is often inadvisable and that some galvanised steel needs controlled etching or caustic cleaning. Use an approved industrial pretreatment where high durability is required.
Which adhesives work on Galvanised steel
Good
MS polymer
MS polymer is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment.
Good
Structural acrylic
Structural acrylic is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment.
Good
Two-part epoxy
Two-part epoxy is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment.
Bonding Galvanised steel to something else
Mild steel to Galvanised steel
uPVC to Galvanised steel
Galvanised steel to EPS (polystyrene foam)
Galvanised steel to Polyurethane foam
Galvanised steel to XPS foam board
Galvanised steel to EVA foam
Last reviewed 8 October 2026.