ZINCALUME® Steel Water Tanks

ZINCALUME® Steel

Pioneer Water Tanks are manufactured with ZINCALUME® steel, lasting four to six times longer than a galvanized steel tank.

The ZINCALUME® steel contains a duplex coating, an alloying of metals with different corrosive properties that offer barrier protection that protects the underlying steel without sacrifice.

ZINCALUME® steel increases the service life, compared to ordinary steel, by 200% according to third-party testing.

When it comes to investing in a long term water storage solution, choosing ZINCALUME® steel protected Pioneer water tank means a 20-Year warranty-backed guarantee.

How thick are Pioneer steel water tanks?

Tank Size	Bottom Ring	Middle Ring	Top Ring
XL70/03	2mm	1.6mm	1mm
XL60/03	2mm	1.6mm	0.8mm
XL50/03	2mm	1.2mm	0.8mm
XL40/02	1.2mm	N/A	0.8mm
XL30/02	1mm	N/A	0.8mm
Up to XL23/02	0.8mm	N/A	0.8mm

ZINCALUME® Steel is tested and proven to last longer

Only the highest quality ZINCALUME® and Colorbond® steel are used in Pioneer Water Tanks, providing unmatched durability that no other tank manufacturer can offer- that’s why Pioneer Tanks last longer than any other brand. Pioneer Water Tanks come standard in ZINCALUME® Steel with your option of upgrading to a wide selection of Colorbond® steel color options.

Next-generation ZINCALUME® steel AM125 introduces magnesium into the aluminum-zinc alloy coating, which improves galvanic protection by activating the aluminum. The result is more effective corrosion resistance. BlueScope Steel research and testing have found that the addition of 2% magnesium is the optimum level of corrosion performance and coating integrity. Along with a capital investment of over $100 million to facilitate the required manufacturing capability, BlueScope Steel can now produce next-generation ZINCALUME® steel AM125 with even greater durability and a more efficient protective coating mass.

To ensure the durability and reputation of next-generation ZINCALUME® steel, BlueScope Steel conducted a comprehensive testing program that included a series of accelerated laboratory corrosion tests as well as a strong emphasis on real-world outdoor exposure tests. A thorough and rigorous testing program ensured that the new product provided optimum performance.

ZINCALUME® Steel Pioneer Water Tanks

ZINCALUME® steel employs a combination of both barrier and sacrificial protection

The 8-80 V-LOCK® profile has much flatter corrugations. As such, when the liner is pressed up against these flatter sections during water cycling, it is unable to be flexed and stressed to the same degree.

This means that thanks to the Pioneer V-LOCK®, the liner – like the rest of the tank – is able to last longer.

Galvanized Steel Only Offers Sacrificial Protection

Barrier protection

Barrier protected steel is coated with a material that prevents moisture and oxygen from coming into contact with the base metal. The absence of moisture and oxygen prevents steel from corroding. In a metal-coated context, coatings consist of inherently corrosion-resistant metals such as Aluminium, Tin, Gold, and so forth.

The advantages of barrier protection are that these coatings are long-lasting and resistant to temperature change, abrasion, erosion, UV and are often electrically conductive. On the downside, if the coating is scratched or cracked localized corrosion will occur.

Testing Shows the Comparision

Sacrificial Coatings

Sacrificial coatings are based on the principle that all metals have the potential to corrode, this potential is referred to as “activity”. When steel is coated with a more active metal, the active metal will corrode in preference to the steel and protect from the corrosive influence. In other words, the active material will sacrifice itself.

Sacrificial coatings are effective even if the steel substrate is exposed, as it is based on electrical conductivity. Sacrificial coatings physically migrate to a corrosion site to provide protection. Galvanized steel relies mainly on sacrificial protection to resist corrosion. Galvanized steel is coated in almost pure zinc.

ZINCALUME® Steel Lasts Longer than Galvanized

Zincalume Steel® Duplex Coatings (a combination of Barrier and Sacrificial Coatings)

Alloying of metals with differing corrosion performance allows the coating to be created that offers both barrier protection to protect the underlying steel, as well as sacrificial protection in the event the steel is cut, scratched, drilled or damaged.

These coatings are very long-lasting and at the same time protect exposed areas of steel.

Over 30 years developing the longest-lasting water storage tank

Next-generation ZINCALUME® steel AM125 introduces magnesium into the aluminum-zinc alloy coating, which improves galvanic protection by activating the aluminum. The result is more effective corrosion resistance.

BlueScope Steel research and testing have found that the addition of 2% magnesium is the optimum level of corrosion performance and coating integrity.

Along with a capital investment of over $100 million to facilitate the required manufacturing capability, BlueScope Steel can now produce next-generation ZINCALUME® steel AM125 with even greater durability and a more efficient protective coating mass.

Zincalume vs Galvanized Steel Salt Spray Test

To ensure the durability and reputation of next-generation ZINCALUME® steel, BlueScope Steel conducted a comprehensive testing program that included a series of accelerated laboratory corrosion tests as well as a strong emphasis on real-world outdoor exposure tests.

A thorough and rigorous testing program ensured that the new product provided optimum performance.

Read the ZINCALUME Steel Product Specification below.

Saving your tank liner

A feat of engineering excellence, the Pioneer V-LOCK® wall profile provides superior internal support for the tank liner.

The Pioneer 8-80 V-LOCK® Design

The 8-80 V-LOCK® profile has much flatter corrugations. As such, when the liner is pressed up against these flatter sections during water cycling, it is unable to be flexed and stressed to the same degree.

This means that thanks to the Pioneer V-LOCK®, the liner –
like the rest of the tank – is able to last longer.

Liner Damage in Other Tanks

In other tanks, the liner is stretched into the deep corrugations in the tank wall during every water level cycle.

Over time, the stresses caused by the water pressure and continual cycling lead to the mechanical failure of the liner.

Available in a variety of colors

Only the highest quality Zincalume® and Colorbond® steel are used in Pioneer Water Tanks, providing unmatched durability that no other tank manufacturer can offer- that’s why Pioneer® Tanks last longer than any other brand.

Pioneer Water Tanks come standard in Zincalume® Steel with your option of upgrading to a wide selection of Colorbond® steel color options.