Mumbai: The Rs650-crore appliance division of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd has launched a new range of refrigerators using ZOP (zinc oxide protection), with a 10-year warranty against rusting. The company says this is the first time that ZOP has been used in refrigerators.

The new range of refrigerators is now made with 100 per cent galvanized steel in contrast to regular cold rolled steel. During the galvanisation process, the steel is coated with zinc, which renders the surface resistant to corrosion. When atmospheric oxygen comes in contact with zinc, the formation of Zinc Oxide helps prevent the breakdown of the surface integrity of the base steel substrate, unlike the iron oxide (rust) in regular steel.

The refrigerators are further coated with epoxy powder. This dual process of galvanization and powder coating gives each refrigerator a double protection.

According to metallurgist Dr N C Jain, , "A Zinc coating has the unique property of preventing oxidation of the protected surface by forming a barrier and thus acting as a sacrificial anode. This process of galvanization is widely used in making cars and ships rust resistant.."

From April 2006, all refrigerators being manufactured by Godrej are made using ZOP technology and will carry the 10-year 'rust-free' warranty.

The Godrej Group is one of the largest manufacturers of home appliances in India and. in 1958, it became the first Indian company to manufacture refrigerators in the domestic market