Electric poles are galvanized steel which goes through a hot-dip galvanizing process which coats steel with a thin layer of zinc at a temperature of around 860 degrees Fahrenheit. After the steel passes through a molten bath of zinc, the zinc reacts with oxygen, forming zinc oxide, which further reacts with carbon dioxide, resulting in zinc carbonate. The zinc carbonate is a strong material that protects steel from elements which may cause corrosion.