Process for dezincing galvanized steel using an electrically isolated conveyor

A process of removing zinc from galvanized steel comprising

• immersing the galvanized steel in an aqueous electrolyte containing sodium or potassium hydroxide, the electrolyte containing at least about 30% by weight of sodium hydroxide and having a temperature of at least about 85.degree. C.,
• galvanically corroding the zinc from the surface of the galvanized steel in a reaction in which there is an anode and a cathode, wherein the zinc serves as the anode and the material serving as the cathode is principally a material having a standard electrode potential which is intermediate of the standard electrode potentials of zinc and cadmium in the electrochemical series,
• conveying the galvanized steel through the electrolyte with a conveyor which is electrically isolated from ground and which serves as a cathode for the galvanic corrosion, the conveyor comprising a cathodic material which has a standard electrode potential which is intermediate of the standard electrode potentials of zinc and cadmium in the electrochemical series, and
• heating the galvanized steel to a temperature of at least about 470.degree. C. to form an alloy on the surface of the galvanized steel to accelerate the corrosion rate of the zinc from the galvanized steel.