ArcelorMittal launched a new zinc-aluminium-magnesium alloy, Optigal, developed for better-performing and more sustainable organic coated steels. Optigal is suited for all roofing and cladding panels and profiles, as well as being the ideal substrate for pre-painted steel.
It is created by hot dip galvanising a steel strip in a bath of zinc, aluminium and magnesium. ArcelorMittal found Optigal to be the best as it combines all the properties required for organic coated steels for the construction market: corrosion resistance, flexibility, lightness and sustainability. Optigal is certified by several construction industry bodies such as CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment) and DIBT (Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik).
Organic coated steel made with Optigal benefits from improved corrosion resistance: a highly compact and stable protective layer is formed at an early stage, leading to a much slower corrosion rate on cut edges and scratches. Granite and Estetic made with Optigal are more flexible compared to non-optimised zinc-magnesium coatings available on the market and demonstrate the formability level required by the most popular forming techniques. Optigal allows an overall weight reduction of up to 4%, while the mechanical properties remain unchanged due to the steel substrate.