What is the process called in which iron pipes are coated with zinc to prevent corrosion?

Walk past any old bridge, iron gate, or pipeline and you will notice they have a slightly dull, greyish coating on them — that is galvanisation at work. Galvanisation is the process of coating iron or steel with a thin layer of zinc to protect it from rusting and corrosion. The term "galvanisation" is derived from the name of Italian scientist Luigi Galvani. Today, it is one of the most widely used and cost-effective methods of protecting iron and steel from corrosion. What makes zinc such a perfect protector is not just the physical barrier it creates, but its ability to act as a sacrificial anode — meaning zinc corrodes first, protecting the iron underneath even when the coating gets scratched.

• Zinc Coating: Zinc forms a tight, strongly adherent layer over iron that physically blocks moisture and oxygen from reaching the iron surface
• Sacrificial Protection: Even if the zinc layer is scratched or damaged, zinc continues to corrode preferentially, protecting the iron beneath — this is called cathodic protection
• Hot-Dip Galvanisation: Most common method — iron is dipped into molten zinc at around 450°C, forming a strong metallurgical bond
• Electroplating vs Galvanisation: Electroplating uses electric current to deposit metal, while galvanisation specifically refers to zinc coating of iron/steel
• Vulcanisation: A completely different process — it involves adding sulphur to rubber to make it stronger, used in tyre manufacturing