What Does Phosphating Mean?

Phosphating is a conversion coating that is applied to steel or iron components,

and is mostly used as a pretreatment method in conjunction with
another method of corrosion protection.
The process involves immersing a component in a dilute solution, which then
converts the surface of the metal into a layer of microscopic phosphate crystals.

A layer of phosphate coating typically includes iron, zinc or manganese crystals.

Phosphate coatings are usually applied to carbon steel, low-alloy steel and cast
iron.
The coating is formed with a solution of iron, zinc or manganese phosphate salts in
phosphoric acid, and is applied either by spraying the solution
onto the substrate or by immersing the substrate into the solution. When steel or
iron parts are placed in the phosphoric acid,
this causes the metal to react in a way that locally depletes the hydronium (H3O+)
ions, raises the pH and causes the dissolved salt to fall out of the solution
and precipitate onto the surface. The acid and metal reaction also creates iron
phosphate, which may be deposited.

Phosphating is also known as phosphatizing and phosphate conversion coating.