The fundamental aim of zinc electroplating is to protect metals from rust or corrosion. Zinc plated coatings are also known as sacrificial coatings because the zinc coating sacrifices itself to protect the underlying metal from corrosion.

Zinc electroplating has to do with the electro-deposition of a thin layer of zinc metal on the surface of another metal which is known as substrate. The zinc coating serves as physical protection which prevents rust from affecting the underlying metal surface.