| 1. Is this really Iron fencing or railing? |
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In the modern Fence Industry "Iron" refers to steel that has been treated specifically for use in outdoor applications. |
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Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. |
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Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten. |
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Carbon and other elements act as a hardening agent, preventing dislocations in the iron atom crystal lattice from sliding past one another. Varying the amount of alloying elements and the form of their presence in the steel (solute elements, precipitated phase) controls qualities such as the hardness, ductility, and tensile strength of the resulting steel. |
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Steel with increased carbon content can be made harder and stronger than iron, but such steel is also less ductile than iron. |
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Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe (from Latin: ferrum) and atomic number 26. |
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Wrought Iron refers to iron that was forged before the technologies behind todays steel making were available. |
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Though once dominant Wrought Iron is no longer produced commercially on a large scale because of the superior qualities and cost efficiencies of alloyed steel. The last American plant closed in 1969. |
| 2. What is Electrostatic Powder Coating? |
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It's a paint process where an electrostatic charge is used to keep a coat of powder on the product before it's placed in an oven. In the oven the coating melts evenly to cover all areas of the steel. |
| 3. What are the advantages of Electrostatic Powder Coating? |
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The biggest advantage is the even distribution of paint across the entire product. |
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It's environmentally friendly because no solvents are used and there is no waste from overspray. |
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The paint coat contains UV stabilizers that provide long lasting shine. |
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The process offers superior adhesion to the steel: the paint is literally baked right in. |
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Electrostatic Powder Coating is more scratch resistant than conventional paint systems. |
| 4. When will I need to re-paint? |
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Beyond a few minor touch-ups to scratches you should never need to re-paint. |
| 5. How long should I expect my fence or railing to last? |
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In a typical back yard application, away from road-salt and snow plows, any of these styles can look great for more than 20 years with very minor maintenance (washing a few times per year). |
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Abnormal conditions (exposure to salt, chemicals, or the weight and pressure caused with snow plowing) can significantly reduce this time line. |
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